Description
Comfort meets convenience in this classic Beef and Shells recipe, where tender pasta shells embrace rich, seasoned ground beef in a creamy sauce. Hearty, quick, and satisfying, this dish delivers home-style deliciousness you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces (225 grams) medium pasta shells
Dairy and Cream:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Submerge pasta shells in boiling water, following package guidelines for precise cooking time until al dente, then carefully drain and reserve.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over moderate temperature, gently sweating diced onions and minced garlic until translucent and fragrant.
- Introduce ground beef to the skillet, breaking meat into small crumbles and browning thoroughly, then eliminate any accumulated grease.
- Pour tomato sauce and beef broth into the meat mixture, allowing ingredients to meld and simmer, reducing liquid and concentrating flavors for approximately 10 minutes.
- Reduce cooking temperature to low, incorporating heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese, continuously stirring until sauce transforms into a velvety, homogeneous consistency.
- Gently fold cooked pasta shells into the creamy beef sauce, ensuring each shell is luxuriously coated with the rich, savory mixture.
- Calibrate seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper, tasting and adjusting to personal preference, then transfer to serving dishes while piping hot.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version that maintains the dish’s creamy texture.
- Use gluten-free pasta shells to make this recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities, ensuring everyone can enjoy the comforting meal.
- Enhance the nutritional profile by adding diced bell peppers or spinach during the sautéing stage, boosting vegetable intake without compromising flavor.
- For a spicier kick, sprinkle red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce when simmering the sauce, creating a more exciting taste experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg