Cozumel-Style Stuffed Shells
Cozumel-Style Stuffed Shells pair tender citrus-marinated pork with softly baked jumbo pasta, melding tangy orange-lime notes with warm cumin and chili. Queso fresco adds a creamy, salty finish over a tomato-sauced casserole that feels hearty yet bright. Serve it for a cozy weekend dinner or a casual gathering when you want bold, Mexican-inspired comfort.
- Prep30 mins
- Cook1 hr 45 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Cozumel-Style Stuffed Shells, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 42 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 89 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 10
- Heart Health
- 68
- Metabolic
- 20
- Digestive
- 23
- Inflammatory
- 53
- Performance
- 39
- General Wellness
- 1
Sprinkle sazon seasoning over the pork cubes and toss to coat evenly. Transfer them to a large zip-top plastic bag. In a mixing bowl, combine orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, cumin, paprika, chili powder, coriander, salt, and pepper. Pour this into the plastic bag with the pork; gently squeeze the bag to distribute the marinade evenly. Seal the bag, set it on a plate, and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
- 2
Remove the pork from the marinade; reserve the marinade. Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook and stir the pork until browned on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the reserved marinade and enough chicken stock to just cover the pork. Bring to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and continue simmering until the meat is falling-apart tender, about 45 minutes.
- 3
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork to a bowl; reserve 1/3 cup of the cooking liquid. Let the pork cool slightly; shred it with two forks. Stir in the reserved cooking liquid, the cilantro, and 7 ounces of crumbled queso fresco cheese.
- 4
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta shells in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet slightly firm, about 13 minutes. Drain.
- 5
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- 6
Spread 2 cups of pasta sauce over the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Stuff the shells with a spoonful of the pork mixture and arrange them in the dish. Pour the remaining pasta sauce evenly over the stuffed shells and sprinkle with the remaining crumbled queso fresco.
- 7
Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
- Calories 519.69 kcal High 26%
- Protein 36.76 g Good Source 74%
- Carbohydrate 9.84 g 4%
- Total Fat 36.44 g High 47%
- Saturated Fat 13.35 g High 67%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 115.78 mg High 39%
- Sodium 752.85 mg High 33%
- Dietary Fiber 2.02 g Low Source 7%
- Total Sugars 5.5 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 230.14 mg Moderate 18%
- Iron 2.52 mg Moderate 14%
- Potassium 358.88 mg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin A 94.75 mcg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin C 10.3 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
About This Recipe
Cozumel Style Stuffed Shells is an Italian dinner recipe made with 16 ingredients. It takes about 2 hrs 15 mins, serves 8, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Bone In Pork Shoulder Butt Roast, Chicken Stock, Chili Powder, and Fresh Cilantro. Each serving provides about 519.69 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Cozumel-Style Stuffed Shells?
- It is an Italian recipe made with 16 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Cozumel-Style Stuffed Shells made of?
- The main ingredients are Bone-In Pork Shoulder Butt Roast, Chicken Stock, Chili Powder, Fresh Cilantro, Ground Coriander. The full list of 16 is above.
- What goes well with Cozumel-Style Stuffed Shells?
- Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Cozumel-Style Stuffed Shells?
- About 2 hrs 15 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 1 hr 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 519.69 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Cozumel-Style Stuffed Shells easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 16 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Cozumel-Style Stuffed Shells healthy?
- Cozumel-Style Stuffed Shells has an easyChef Pro health score of 41/100. Per serving, it provides 519.69 calories and 36.76 g of protein, or 74% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 752.85 mg (33% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 13.35 g (67% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Milk, Wheat and Gluten, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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