Creamy Beef and Shells
User Reviews
5.0
135 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Total Time
40 mins
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Servings
4 people
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Calories
532 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Creamy Beef and Shells
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Creamy Beef and Shells is an easy ground beef recipe with shell pasta smothered in a creamy and flavorful tomato sauce.
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Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef 85% lean
- Salt/Pepper
- 1 small diced yellow onion can sub 1 tsp onion powder
- 3 cloves minced garlic can sub 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
- 1 cup beef broth
- 16 oz. tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese softened
- ½ cups half and half
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ pound medium shell pasta
- fresh parsley to garnish
- grated Parmesan cheese for serving.
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Instructions
- Shred the cheese and measure out all ingredients prior to beginning. Begin heating the pasta water for boiling.
- Season the ground beef with salt/pepper. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the beef. Cook and crumble it for 4 minutes. Add the onions and cook for 5 more minutes, or until the onions are softened and the beef is cooked through. Drain grease.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, mustard powder, red pepper flakes, and flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the beef broth and use a silicone spatula to ‘clean’ the bottom of the skillet.
- Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, and softened cream cheese. Let the sauce simmer while you boil the shells for 7-8 minutes or as instructed on package. (Optional, add a few teaspoons of salt to the boiling water.)
- Decrease heat to low. Stir in the half and half. Remove from heat and gradually stir in the shredded cheese until well-combined.
- Add the drained pasta and stir to combine. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with garlic bread with cheese and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Shred the cheese from a block. It will melt (and taste!) much better than bagged shredded cheese, which contains cellulose to prevent it from clumping in the bag (but also makes it melt less creamy.) I use Cracker Barrel sharp yellow cheddar.
- The hot sauce enhances all of the other flavors in the dish. It won’t make it spicy. I use Texas Pete hot sauce.
- If you don’t have mustard powder or tomato paste, they can be omitted, but they do add subtle but excellent flavor to the sauce. The tomato paste also helps to thicken the sauce.
- A variety of different pastas will work in this recipe, including rotini, farfalle (bowtie), and fusilli.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
532kcal
(27%)
Carbohydrates
33g
(11%)
Protein
42g
(84%)
Fat
26g
(40%)
Saturated Fat
14g
(70%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
7g
Trans Fat
0.4g
Cholesterol
127mg
(42%)
Sodium
1258mg
(52%)
Potassium
1000mg
(29%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
8g
(16%)
Vitamin A
1154IU
(23%)
Vitamin C
13mg
(14%)
Calcium
395mg
(40%)
Iron
5mg
(28%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 532 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 532kcal | 27% |
| Carbohydrates | 33g | 11% |
| Protein | 42g | 84% |
| Fat | 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 14g | 70% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 0.4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 127mg | 42% |
| Sodium | 1258mg | 52% |
| Potassium | 1000mg | 21% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 1154IU | 23% |
| Vitamin C | 13mg | 14% |
| Calcium | 395mg | 40% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
135 reviews
Excellent
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