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Creamy Beef and Shells

Creamy Beef and Shells


  • Author: Julia Koch
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Description

Creamy Beef and Shells is a comforting, family-friendly pasta dinner that blends savory ground beef with shell pasta and a rich, cheesy cream sauce. It’s quick to prepare, deeply satisfying, and perfect for both weeknight dinners and meal prep.


Ingredients

1 pound medium pasta shells

1 pound ground beef

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 cup beef broth

1 cup heavy cream

4 ounces cream cheese

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper


Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta shells until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. In a large skillet over medium heat, add a bit of oil and sauté the chopped onion until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

3. Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned, then drain the excess fat.

4. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour in the beef broth and simmer for 3-4 minutes.

5. Reduce heat to low. Add heavy cream and cream cheese. Stir until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.

6. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine.

7. Add the cooked pasta shells into the skillet. Gently mix until well coated with the creamy beef sauce.

8. Sprinkle in the shredded cheddar cheese and stir until fully melted.

9. Serve hot, optionally garnished with chopped parsley.

Notes

Use freshly shredded cheese for better melt and flavor—pre-shredded cheese may cause graininess.

If reheating leftovers, add a splash of milk to loosen up the sauce and restore creaminess.

For a lighter version, substitute ground beef with ground turkey and use half-and-half instead of cream.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1.5 cups
  • Calories: 620
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Sodium: 670mg
  • Fat: 35g
  • Saturated Fat: 18g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 14g
  • Trans Fat: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 46g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 28g
  • Cholesterol: 115mg

Keywords: creamy beef and shells, pasta skillet, weeknight dinner