Description
A comforting one-pot dish featuring tender pasta shells enveloped in a savory, cheesy beef sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 g) ground beef
- 12 ounces (340 g) medium pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (14–15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prep everything first.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sauté the aromatics, adding onion and garlic to the beef.
- Build the sauce with tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
- Cook the pasta in the sauce until nearly al dente.
- Finish with cream and cheese, stirring until melted.
- Let it rest briefly, then serve.
Notes
For lighter versions, substitute ground turkey or chicken. Add vegetables like mushrooms or spinach for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: Creamy Beef and Shells, weeknight dinner, comfort food, pasta recipe