Description
Creamy Beef and Shells is a quick and easy comfort food recipe featuring tender ground beef and perfectly cooked pasta shells enveloped in a rich, velvety cream-based sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this one-pot dish combines savory flavors with creamy textures, making it ideal for busy weeknights or cozy dinners. Family-friendly and highly adaptable, it uses pantry staples and minimal cleanup while delivering satisfying, hearty taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 ounces small or medium pasta shells
- 1 pound lean to medium-fat ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano, thyme mix)
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook it until it’s no longer pink, breaking it into small pieces with a spatula. Drain excess fat if necessary to keep the dish from becoming greasy.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the browned beef. Stir frequently until the onions become soft and translucent, releasing their natural sweetness and building flavor layers.
- Cook Pasta Shells: While the beef mixture is cooking, boil the pasta shells in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving a cup of pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency if needed.
- Prepare the Creamy Sauce: Reduce heat to low, then pour in the beef broth and heavy cream, stirring constantly. Sprinkle in the dried Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for a few minutes until it starts to thicken.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return the drained pasta shells to the skillet with the creamy beef sauce. Toss everything together so each shell is coated with the velvety sauce. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese for an added burst of cheesy goodness.
- Final Touches: Adjust seasoning to taste and add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce feels too thick. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs if you like.
Notes
- Cook pasta shells just until al dente to prevent mushiness when tossed in sauce.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for better melting and richer flavor.
- Let the sauce simmer gently to thicken naturally without extra thickeners.
- Taste as you add salt and pepper to avoid over seasoning.
- Choose cream with higher fat content for a richer, silkier sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: creamy beef shells, pasta with beef cream sauce, quick beef pasta, comfort food, one pot dinner
