Description
Creamy Beef and Shells delivers comfort on a plate, blending tender pasta with rich, seasoned ground beef in a velvety sauce. Hearty home-style cooking comes together quickly, offering pure satisfaction with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces (226 grams) medium pasta shells
- 1 ½ cups (170 grams) cheddar cheese, freshly grated
Aromatics and Spices:
- 1 small sweet onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Liquid and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) beef stock
- 1 (15 ounces or 425 grams) can marinara sauce
- ¾ cup (177 milliliters) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (59 milliliters) sour cream
Instructions
- Cook pasta shells in a large pot of salted water according to package directions until al dente, then thoroughly drain and set aside.
- In a spacious skillet, warm olive oil over medium-high heat and introduce ground beef, breaking it into crumbly fragments while cooking for 4 minutes until perfectly browned.
- Remove excess fat from the beef, leaving behind a flavorful base in the skillet.
- Sauté diced onions in the same skillet for 2 minutes, creating a fragrant foundation for the dish.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, releasing its aromatic essence.
- Sprinkle flour into the skillet, stirring continuously to create a light golden roux that will help thicken the sauce.
- Slowly incorporate beef stock, whisking to prevent lumps and create a smooth liquid base.
- Introduce marinara sauce and blend in Italian seasoning, dried parsley, oregano, and paprika to develop a rich, complex flavor profile.
- Allow the mixture to reach a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 7 minutes, letting the sauce reduce and intensify.
- Reintroduce the cooked pasta shells and previously prepared beef into the skillet, ensuring even distribution.
- Pour in heavy cream and stir, heating the mixture for 2 minutes to create a luxurious, creamy texture.
- Fold in sour cream, providing an additional layer of tangy richness.
- Gradually sprinkle and melt cheddar cheese, stirring until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste, adjusting flavors as needed.
- Serve immediately, optionally garnishing with fresh chopped parsley for a pop of color and fresh herb flavor.
Notes
- Perfectly balanced comfort food that combines tender pasta shells with rich, creamy beef sauce.
- Drain excess fat after browning beef to keep the dish lighter and prevent greasiness.
- Quick weeknight meal ready in under 30 minutes with minimal chopping and simple ingredients.
- Layer flavors by using Italian seasonings and marinara sauce for depth and complexity.
- Sour cream and heavy cream create an ultra-luxurious, silky texture that coats every shell.
- Melt cheese slowly to ensure smooth incorporation and prevent clumping or separation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 625 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg