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Creamy Beef and Shells

A comforting and easy one-pot dish made with ground beef, pasta shells, and a rich creamy sauce that's ready in just 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef Can substitute with ground turkey or sausage
  • 12 ounces pasta shells Can substitute with macaroni elbows
  • 4 cups beef broth Use enough to just cover the pasta shells
  • 1 cup heavy cream Can substitute with half-and-half or whole milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheese Cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack recommended
  • 1 medium onion Chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic Minced
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 pinches salt
  • 2 pinches black pepper
  • 1 cup frozen peas or spinach Optional for added nutrition

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until crispy. Drain off the excess grease.
  2. Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté until softened and fragrant.
  3. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  4. Add uncooked pasta shells to the skillet.
  5. Pour in enough beef broth to cover the pasta shells.
Cooking
  1. Bring to a simmer, cooking the pasta until tender, about 10-12 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  2. Once pasta is tender, stir in heavy cream and shredded cheese until melted and creamy.
  3. If desired, add frozen peas or spinach for color and nutrition.
  4. If the sauce gets too thick, add more broth or reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
  5. Serve hot, sprinkling additional cheese on top if desired.

Notes

Great for leftovers; reheat with a splash of milk or broth. Can freeze, but creamy sauce may become grainy upon thawing.