Description
Comfort meets culinary excellence in this hearty Creamy Beef and Shells pasta dish, blending rich ground beef with perfectly cooked pasta shells. Warm, cheesy, and deeply satisfying, you’ll savor each comforting bite of this classic American dinner favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb medium pasta shells
Dairy:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 small onion
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef, breaking it into small crumbles until no pink remains.
- Dice the onion and mince the garlic, then add to the browned beef, sautéing until the vegetables become fragrant and translucent.
- Sprinkle salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning over the meat mixture, stirring to distribute the spices evenly.
- In a separate pot, bring salted water to a rolling boil and cook pasta shells until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes, then drain thoroughly.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium-low and stir in heavy cream, allowing the mixture to simmer and slightly thicken for 2-3 minutes.
- Add cream cheese to the skillet, stirring continuously until completely melted and integrated into the sauce.
- Fold in the cooked pasta shells, ensuring each shell is generously coated with the creamy beef sauce.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top, turning off the heat and letting the residual warmth melt the cheese completely.
- Let the dish rest for 2-3 minutes to allow the sauce to set and flavors to meld before serving hot.
Notes
- Choose leaner ground beef like 90/10 to reduce excess fat and create a healthier version of the dish.
- Swap heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter sauce consistency without sacrificing richness.
- Add diced bell peppers or mushrooms for extra nutrition and texture, blending seamlessly with the creamy beef mixture.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace pasta shells with gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg