Description
Creamy Beef and Shells is a delightful, comforting pasta dish combining tender ground beef, medium pasta shells, and a rich, cheesy cream sauce flavored with Italian herbs and smoked paprika. This quick and easy recipe brings together hearty flavors and creamy textures perfect for a family dinner or a cozy meal at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces medium pasta shells
Beef Mixture
- 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
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 (15oz) can marinara sauce
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
- Brown the Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 3-5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until browned. Drain excess fat and set the beef aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Flour: Whisk in the flour with the onion and garlic mixture and cook for about 1 minute until it turns lightly browned to form a roux.
- Make the Sauce: Gradually whisk in the beef stock to avoid lumps. Stir in marinara sauce along with Italian seasoning, dried parsley, oregano, and smoked paprika. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reduces slightly and thickens.
- Combine Pasta and Beef: Stir the cooked pasta and browned ground beef back into the skillet with the sauce, ensuring everything is well mixed.
- Add Cream: Stir in the heavy cream and cook for 1-2 minutes until heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.
- Add Sour Cream: Stir in the sour cream to enrich the sauce with a tangy creaminess.
- Melt Cheese: Fold in the shredded cheddar cheese and cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring until the cheese melts completely.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley if desired for an extra pop of color and flavor.
Notes
- This dish is creamy, rich, and packed with comforting flavors, making it perfect for a quick family dinner.
- The recipe serves 6 and can be ready in just 30 minutes, ideal for busy weeknights.
- Using freshly grated cheddar cheese improves melting and flavor compared to pre-shredded varieties.
- Feel free to add a sprinkle of extra parsley or Parmesan on top for garnish and extra taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 66 mg
