Description
Creamy Beef and Shells is a rich and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender ground beef and medium pasta shells in a luscious creamy tomato sauce with cheddar cheese. This quick and comforting recipe combines Italian herbs, garlic, and smoked paprika for a perfectly balanced, cheesy dinner that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces medium pasta shells
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small sweet onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Herbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Flour and Liquids
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 (15oz can) marinara sauce
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Cheese
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta shells according to package instructions in a large pot of boiling salted water. Once cooked al dente, drain well and set aside.
- Brown the Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until fully browned and no longer pink, about 3-5 minutes. Drain any excess fat and transfer beef to a separate bowl.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add Flour: Sprinkle the flour into the skillet with onions and garlic, whisking continuously to combine. Cook for about 1 minute until the flour is lightly browned, which will help thicken the sauce.
- Incorporate Liquids and Herbs: Gradually whisk in beef stock to avoid lumps. Stir in marinara sauce along with Italian seasoning, dried parsley, oregano, and smoked paprika. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 6-8 minutes.
- Combine Pasta and Beef: Stir the cooked pasta and browned beef back into the skillet, fully incorporating them into the sauce.
- Add Cream: Pour in the heavy cream and stir until heated through and well blended, about 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix in Sour Cream: Stir in the sour cream until the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Fold in Cheese: Add the grated cheddar cheese and fold it into the sauce, allowing it to melt evenly over 1-2 minutes.
- Serve: Serve the dish immediately, optionally garnished with additional parsley for freshness and color.
Notes
- This dish is creamy, rich, and loaded with cheesy flavor, making it perfect for a comforting family dinner.
- The recipe takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, ideal for a quick weeknight meal.
- Kids typically love this hearty, cheesy pasta, making it a great way to please picky eaters.
- You can substitute the beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter variation.
- Use gluten-free pasta and flour if a gluten-free version is desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 66 mg
