Description
Rich and comforting beef and shells pasta blends hearty ground beef with creamy cheese sauce for a satisfying meal. Delicious dinner comes together quickly with simple ingredients and delivers classic comfort to hungry families.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Pasta and Base:
- 8 ounces (8 oz) medium pasta shells
- 1 can (15 ounces/15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
Instructions
- Boil pasta shells in salted water for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then thoroughly drain and reserve.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, gently sautéing diced onions and minced garlic until translucent and fragrant.
- Introduce ground beef into the skillet, methodically crumbling with a wooden spoon, and cook at 375°F until completely browned and no pink remains.
- Eliminate excess grease from the meat, then pour in tomato sauce, incorporating ground black pepper and kosher salt for enhanced flavor profile.
- Allow the meat sauce to gently simmer for approximately 4-5 minutes, developing rich, concentrated flavors.
- Reduce heat to low, fold in cooked pasta shells, blending thoroughly with the meat sauce.
- Stream heavy cream into the skillet, stirring consistently to create a smooth, velvety texture.
- Gradually sprinkle shredded cheese, continuously stirring until completely melted and sauce becomes uniformly creamy.
- Remove from heat, let rest for 2-3 minutes to allow sauce to slightly thicken.
- Transfer to serving dishes, garnish with optional fresh parsley, and serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by adding red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a spicier kick.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk to reduce calorie content.
- Choose lean ground beef (90/10 or 93/7) to minimize excess fat and create a healthier dish.
- Fresh herbs like chopped parsley or basil can elevate the flavor profile and add a bright, fresh element to the creamy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 710 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg