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Creamy Beef and Shells

Creamy Beef and Shells dish is creamy, rich, flavorful, and cheesy! Ready in 30 minutes, it's perfect for a quick dinner for the whole family! Even kids love it!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 480 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 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

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook pasta per package instructions in a large pot of boiling salted water and drain well.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, breaking it with a wooden spoon. Drain excess fat and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  4. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, for about 1 minute.
  5. Gradually whisk in beef stock and stir to combine. Add marinara sauce and stir in Italian seasoning, dried parsley, oregano, and paprika.
  6. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and slightly thickened, about 6-8 minutes.
  7. Stir in cooked pasta, and add back beef.
  8. Next, stir in heavy cream until heated through, about 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
  9. After that, stir in the sour cream.
  10. Next, fold in the cheddar cheese until melted, about 1-2 minutes.
  11. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley if you'd like.

Notes

  • There are different fat ratios in the ground beef packages you buy. Ground beef (70/30) is the most common and the least expensive because it has the most fat. It is 70% lean with 30% fat. It will give you the juiciest burgers, though, with a lot of flavor and a lot of grease. I would avoid it for this pasta recipe; if you decide to use it, make sure to discard the grease.
  • Ground round (85/25) comes from the round of the cow, so it is very lean with only 25% fat. Ground chuck (80/20) was taken from the chuck portion of the cow and only has 20% fat. With less fat, it also has less flavor, which makes this a good choice for seasoned mixtures like taco mix, chili, soup mixtures, and this pasta recipe.
  • The pasta should be saucy, not dry; add more marinara sauce if needed.
  • To prevent the pasta from being soggy, make sure to cook it just al dente so that when you combine it with the sauce, further cooking will not make it too mushy.
  • Equally important is to drain the beef grease, just leave in 1-2 tablespoons for extra flavor.
  • If you add more vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and carrots, remember to saute them with the onion and garlic until tender.

Nutrition Information

Calories 480kcal (24%) Carbohydrates 39g (13%) Protein 28g (56%) Fat 23g (35%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Cholesterol 66mg (22%) Sodium 370mg (15%) Potassium 553mg (16%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 221IU (4%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 215mg (22%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 480

% Daily Value*

Calories 480kcal 24%
Carbohydrates 39g 13%
Protein 28g 56%
Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 66mg 22%
Sodium 370mg 15%
Potassium 553mg 12%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 221IU 4%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 215mg 22%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.