Description
Comforting creamy beef and shells bring Italian-American pasta magic to dinner tables with hearty ground beef and tender pasta shells. Cheesy, rich sauce blends perfectly, creating a quick family-favorite meal you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
Pasta:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) medium pasta shells
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Liquid and Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 (15 ounces) can tomato sauce
Seasonings and Oil:
- 2 tablespoons flour
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Boil pasta shells in salted water for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve.
- Sauté finely chopped onions and minced garlic in olive oil over medium heat until translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Introduce ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small crumbles and cooking until completely browned and no pink remains, about 6-7 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour over the meat mixture, stirring constantly to prevent clumping and cook out the raw flour flavor for 2 minutes.
- Slowly pour beef broth and tomato sauce into the skillet, allowing the liquid to incorporate smoothly while stirring continuously.
- Reduce heat and simmer the sauce for 5-6 minutes, watching for a slight thickening and consistent texture.
- Stream heavy cream into the sauce, then gradually fold in shredded cheddar cheese until completely melted and integrated.
- Gently fold cooked pasta shells into the creamy beef sauce, ensuring each shell is evenly coated.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Transfer to serving dishes immediately while hot and garnish with optional fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Customize pasta texture by cooking shells slightly less than package instructions for a firmer bite when mixed with creamy sauce.
- Enhance flavor by using high-quality sharp cheddar cheese instead of mild varieties for deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Reduce fat content by substituting half-and-half or whole milk for heavy cream, maintaining creamy consistency while cutting calories.
- Transform dish into gluten-free option by using cornstarch instead of flour as thickening agent and selecting gluten-free pasta shells.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 667 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 43 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg