Description
Creamy Beef and Shells is a comforting skillet meal featuring seasoned ground beef simmered in a rich tomato and cream cheese sauce, combined with tender shell pasta and melted cheddar cheese. This hearty dish is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb. ground beef (85% lean)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 small yellow onion, diced (or 1 tsp onion powder)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon flour (optional, helps thicken the sauce)
Sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 16 oz. tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup half and half
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Pasta and Garnish
- ½ pound medium shell pasta
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Shred the cheddar cheese and measure out all ingredients. Begin heating a large pot of water for boiling the pasta.
- Cook Ground Beef and Onions: Season ground beef with salt and pepper. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the beef, and cook while crumbling for about 4 minutes. Add diced onions and continue cooking for 5 more minutes until onions are softened and beef is fully cooked. Drain excess grease from the skillet.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Incorporate Seasonings and Flour: Add hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, mustard powder, red pepper flakes (if using), and flour. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to combine flavors and slightly thicken the mixture.
- Add Broth and Scrape Skillet: Pour in beef broth and use a silicone spatula to scrape the bottom of the skillet to release any browned bits.
- Add Tomato and Cream Cheese Sauce: Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, and softened cream cheese. Let the sauce simmer gently while the pasta cooks.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the shell pasta in the prepared water for 7 to 8 minutes or according to package instructions. Optionally add a few teaspoons of salt to the boiling water. Drain pasta once cooked.
- Finish Sauce: Reduce heat to low, stir in half and half. Remove skillet from heat and gradually stir in shredded cheddar cheese until the sauce is well combined and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and stir well to coat evenly with the cheesy beef sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with garlic bread topped with cheese and freshly grated Parmesan cheese on the side.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, keep the optional flour in the recipe; omit for a lighter sauce.
- Use 85% lean ground beef for a balance of flavor and fat; leaner beef may result in a drier dish.
- Adjust hot sauce and red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Fresh garlic and onions provide better flavor than powders, but powders can be substituted if needed.
- Be careful not to overcook the pasta to maintain a firm yet tender texture.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: creamy beef pasta, beef shells recipe, cheesy beef pasta, ground beef dinner, quick creamy pasta, one skillet meal
