Description

Creamy Beef and Shells is a comforting pasta dish featuring tender medium pasta shells combined with savory browned ground beef in a rich, creamy tomato sauce enhanced with sharp cheddar cheese. This easy-to-make skillet meal brings together Italian seasoning, garlic, and a smooth blend of beef stock, tomato sauce, and heavy cream for a satisfying family-friendly dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

8 ounces medium pasta shells

Meat and Vegetables

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1/2 medium sweet onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings and Sauces

1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups beef stock
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
3/4 cup heavy cream
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
6 ounces shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 1/2 cups)

Instructions

Cook Pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
Brown Beef: Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, crumbling the beef as it cooks. Drain excess fat and set beef aside.
Sauté Onion: Add diced onion to the same skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
Add Garlic and Seasoning: Stir in minced garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Create Roux: Whisk in all-purpose flour and cook until lightly browned, about 1 minute, to form a roux that will thicken the sauce.
Add Liquids and Simmer: Gradually whisk in beef stock and tomato sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced and slightly thickened, about 6-8 minutes.
Combine and Heat Through: Stir in cooked pasta, browned ground beef, and heavy cream until heated through, about 1-2 minutes. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Melt Cheese: Stir in shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese until melted and incorporated, about 2 minutes.
Serve: Serve the creamy beef and shells immediately while hot for best flavor and texture.

Notes

Be sure to drain the excess fat from the ground beef to keep the sauce from being greasy.
Use extra-sharp cheddar for a robust cheesy flavor, but you can substitute with a milder cheddar if preferred.
For a thicker sauce, let it simmer a little longer before adding pasta and cheese.
This recipe can be made ahead and reheated; add a splash of beef stock or cream when reheating if the sauce thickens too much.
Ensure the pasta is cooked just until al dente as it will continue to cook slightly when mixed into the sauce.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 475
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 520mg
Fat: 26g
Saturated Fat: 13g
Unsaturated Fat: 11g
Trans Fat: 0.3g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 28g
Cholesterol: 90mg

Keywords: creamy beef and shells, ground beef pasta, cheesy beef pasta, easy pasta skillet, creamy tomato pasta, weeknight dinner