Description
Rich, creamy, and satisfying—Creamy Beef and Shells is comfort food at its best, perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces medium pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small sweet onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 (15oz) can marinara sauce
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package instructions. Drain well and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes. Drain any excess fat and set the beef aside.
- Toss in the diced onion and sauté for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute until it’s lightly browned.
- Gradually pour in the beef stock, stirring continuously to combine. Add the marinara sauce, along with the Italian seasoning, dried parsley, oregano, and smoked paprika.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 6-8 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Stir in the cooked pasta and return the browned beef to the skillet.
- Add the heavy cream and heat through for 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and pepper as needed.
- Finally, stir in the sour cream, then fold in the cheddar cheese until melted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For a lighter option, consider using ground turkey and experimenting with different cheeses. Always salt your pasta water generously!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 55mg