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Creamy Beef and Shells - A quick/easy ground beef recipe, this is a pasta dish that will be on your dinner table all week long! So creamy and so comforting!

A quick/easy ground beef recipe, this is a pasta dish that will be on your dinner table all week long! So creamy and so comforting!

Creamy Beef and Shells - A quick/easy ground beef recipe, this is a pasta dish that will be on your dinner table all week long! So creamy and so comforting!

Featured Comment

This is a go to recipe for my family. My son asks for it on a regular basis! It’s super quick & easy & the flavors are delicious. Sometimes I add 1/2 tsp less italian seasoing, but that’s just my preference. Thanks for sharing this.
melissa
873 more comments

I cannot even begin to tell you how much of this pasta I ate on probably 13 different occasions.

Well, first, I should tell you that no plating of any kind was involved here.

Nope. This is clearly a straight-out-of-the-skillet type dinner. Just grab your fork and dig right in.

All that cream sauce. All that pasta, just collecting that creaminess. And the perfectly crumbled ground beef, again, soaking up every last drop of that creamy, heavenly goodness.

Ugh, I can’t even talk about this anymore because now I need to make this for dinner. Again. For the 14th time.

Creamy Beef and Shells - A quick/easy ground beef recipe, this is a pasta dish that will be on your dinner table all week long! So creamy and so comforting!

Tools For This Recipe

Large cast iron skillet

Creamy Beef and Shells: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use ground beef?

Not at all! Ground pork or ground turkey can be used instead of ground beef.

What is tomato sauce? Is it the same as passata?

Tomato sauce, in the US, is tomato puree typically cooked down for a thick, smooth consistency with a relatively sweet flavor. Passata is simply uncooked tomato purée. You can use passata in place of tomato sauce, but it is not a completely equal substitute.

What is heavy cream?

Heavy cream (or heavy whipping cream) has one of the highest fat contents with about 36-40% fat. Half and half or whole milk are suitable substitutes, but will yield a lighter result.

Is this freezer-friendly?

Yes! You can freeze the leftovers in individual freezer bags, thaw overnight, and reheat on the stovetop.

Creamy Beef and Shells

Creamy Beef and Shells

Yield: 4 servings
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
A quick/easy ground beef recipe, this is a pasta dish that will be on your dinner table all week long! So creamy and so comforting!
4.8 stars (521 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces medium pasta shells
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • ½ medium sweet onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 6 ounces shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese, about 1 1/2 cups

Equipment

Instructions

  • In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well.
  • Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks; drain excess fat. Set aside.
  • Add onion to the skillet, and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Stir in garlic and Italian seasoning until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
  • Gradually whisk in beef stock and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and slightly thickened, about 6-8 minutes.
  • Stir in pasta, beef and heavy cream until heated through, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in cheese until melted, about 2 minutes.
  • Serve immediately.

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