This Creamy Beef and Shells recipe has your symmetrical quantity of warm, scrumptious comfort food, especially good for weeknights. The most tender pasta shells hug a rich, cheesy sauce with nice, hearty ground beef, onions, and spices.Melted cheddar and Parmesan cheese contribute creamy and tangy finishes that everyone can love. Garnish with fresh parsley for pops of color and freshness, and serve hot for a comforting, delicious meal!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Creamy Beef and Shells: the best of purely comforting food: tender pasta shell, seasoned ground beef, and rich, cheesy sauce. This hearty and fulfilling meal is really simple to prepare that makes it great not just for weeknight dinners, but also for casual gatherings. Cheddar and parmesan provide that layered cheesy goodness, while Italian seasoning and paprika add the right flavor kick. Altogether very little time for prep, and everything is done in sort of one-pan sauce handling, making this a quick meal that can delight the entire family.
Key Ingredients
Medium Pasta Shells: Thick saucy coating inside shells equals palatable bites. If you want to experiment, you could replace them with elbow macaroni or even orecchiette.
Ground Beef: Makes an intense savory-hearty fill for the dish. I should say 85 percent lean beef for a lovely tone of flavor with the minimal grease.
Onion and Garlic: Adds sweetness and depth through diced onion and an aromatic richness from garlic.
Italian Seasoning and Paprika: Bring in the warmth, herbiness, and smoke to the dish.
Beef Broth: Makes delicious, rich drops of deeply flavored base sauce. For that reason, I use low sodium broth to manage saltiness.
Heavy Cream: Adds richness and luxury status of cream to the sauce. Or just use half-and-half as a less rich alternative.
Cheddar and Parmesan Cheese: They combined to make the sauce gooier and tastier, completing it with a nutty finish from the parmesan.
Fresh Parsley (Optional): Some parsley sprinkles would really bring some color that would also pair well with the richness bringing in very little freshness.
Complete list of ingredients with quantities and instructions is located in the recipe card below
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
Boil the Pasta: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente.
Drain: Drain the pasta and set it aside.
Step 2: Cook the Beef
Heat the Oil: In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat.
Brown the Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned.
Drain Excess Fat: Remove any excess fat from the skillet.
Step 3: Add Vegetables and Seasonings
Cook the Onion: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
Add Garlic and Spices: Stir in the garlic, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of paprika, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 4: Make the Sauce
Add Flour: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flour over the beef mixture and stir until fully combined.
Pour in Beef Broth: Gradually add 1 cup of beef broth, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens.
Add Heavy Cream: Reduce the heat to low and stir in 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Simmer gently until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Step 5: Add the Cheese
Remove from Heat: Take the skillet off the heat.
Melt the Cheese: Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
Step 6: Combine with Pasta
Mix Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta shells to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the cheesy beef sauce.
Garnish: Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
Step 7: Serve
Serve Immediately: Scoop the creamy cheesy beef and pasta shells onto plates and serve hot.
Enjoy: Relish this comforting, hearty dish that’s sure to please the whole family!
Serving Suggestions
Creamy Beef and Shells can stand alone as a meal, but here are some other ways to beef it up:
Garlic Bread: Pair with warm garlic bread to soak up all that cheesy sauce.
Green Salad: Top it off with a fresh, crisp, side salad drizzled with a tangy vinaigrette for refreshing contrast.
Roasted veg: Broccoli or asparagus roasted are great with it as a side.
And on a cold night, enjoy this at home, with a glass of red or sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon.
Storage Tips
Chilling
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for no longer than 3 days.
Freezing
For freezing, cool the dish first. Place in a freezer-safe container, leaving headspace for expansion, and freeze up to 3 months. In the refrigerator, defrost overnight before warming up.
Reheating
To reheat leftovers, warm in a pan over low heat, adding splash or two of milk or broth to the sauce as necessary to loosen it up. Microwave individual portions at an intermediate to medium power, stirring halfway through.
Variations
Heat Punch: Add a whisper of red pepper flakes or some hot sauce for a really good spiciness.
Veggie Punch: Stir in stir-fried mushrooms, fresh spinach, or finely cut bell peppers.
Lighter: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for beef and use Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream.
Extra Cheesy: Top with shredded mozzarella, and place under broiler until bubbly and golden.
Herbaceous Twist: Change out the parsley for fresh basil or thyme, and you have a whole new flavor profile.
Conclusion
Creamy Beef and Shells are both heavenly comfort foods and super-fast meals, especially on those busy days or whenever one wants something warm and filling. It’s a friendly family recipe that packs more flavor than most, and comes with a guarantee of rich, creamy goodness at the table. Use it to either continue along its traditional path or try with a few of its many options – either way, this one is bound to become a frequent occurrence on your table. Serve and enjoy the grinning faces–happy cooking!
Creamy Beef and Shells
Ingredients
- 8 oz medium pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Add diced onion to the skillet and sauté until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Sprinkle flour over the beef mixture and stir until fully combined. Gradually add beef broth, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream. Simmer until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Remove the skillet from heat and stir in cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked pasta shells to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the cheesy beef sauce. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
- Scoop the creamy cheesy beef and pasta shells onto plates and serve hot.
