If you are looking for a hearty meal that the whole family will love then this easy creamy beef and shells recipe is it. This easy recipe brings together ground beef and tender pasta shells all in a creamy tomato sauce. Serve up a bowl full of this comfort food any night of the week.

Each spoonful of this delicious meal is a symphony of flavors and texture that is hard to resist. This easy recipe is perfect for when you are craving a comforting meal on a chilly evening. So skip that boxed hamburger helper and make this homemade version instead.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Are you ready to fall in love with this easy creamy beef and shells recipe? I mean how could you not it's loaded with flavor and texture from the ground beef and tender shell pasta. All the way to the rich velvety creamy tomato sauce.
All these delicious flavors combined together in one dish of balanced flavors. Creating a satisfying and delicious meal that is easy to make with simple ingredients. It's one of those meals that speaks to the soul and offers comfort in each bite.
Not only is this comfort food at its best but this recipe also offers convenience and versatility. This hearty and satisfying meal can be ready in no time making it perfect for those cozy nights in or even on those nights of entertaining guests. Not to mention any leftovers taste just as amazing the next day, this easy ground beef recipe is sure to become a staple in your dinner rotation.
Ingredients Needed
In this section, we are going to talk about the ingredients needed to make this creamy beef and shells recipe. Along with what they do for the recipe and any substation that can be made.
- Medium Shells are one of the stars of this recipe which provides a vessel to hold the creamy tomato sauce in. Elbow noodles would be a great replacement for the shells.
- Ground Beef brings protein to this dish along with texture and flavor. I use lean ground beef but ground chicken or ground turkey could be substituted for the ground beef.
- Black Pepper enhances the flavor of the recipe while also bringing a slight heat to the recipe.
- Seasoning Salt contributes to improving the overall flavor of the ground beef.
- Italian Seasoning brings a unique blend of herbs and spices to enhance the recipe's flavor. Using herbs like fresh parsley, oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary.
- Diced Onion brings sweet and savory notes to this ground beef pasta recipe. For a more subtle onion flavor, you could use onion powder.
- Minced Garlic adds depth and complexity to the dish. Garlic powder would be a great substitution for the minced garlic.
- All Purpose Flour acts as a thickening agent to the sauce.
- Beef Broth does two things brings in flavor and acts as the base for this easy creamy beef recipe. Chicken broth or vegetable broth will work in this recipe.
- Tomato Sauce adds a sweet and slightly tangy flavor as well as a vibrant red hue to the creamy sauce. You can use tomato soup, tomato paste, or a marina sauce as a replacement for the tomato sauce.
- Heavy Cream adds a subtle richness to this heart pasta dish. While also acting as a thickening agent and adding to the creaminess of the dish. Half and half, whole milk, evaporated milk, Greek Yogurt, sour cream, or cream cheese as replacements for the heavy cream. Keep in mind these other ingredients may alter the flavor as well as the thickness of this easy recipe.
- Mild Sharp Cheddar Cheese adds to the creamy cheesy aspect of the creamy beef and shells recipe. When it comes to the replacement of the cheese I say use your favorite as a replacement for the sharp cheddar.
How To Make
Here is the step-by-step direction on how to make this creamy beef and shells recipe. Add water to a large pot, once it comes to a full boil add the pasta shells in. Cook shells until al dente like the back of the package says.
While the pasta cooks in a large skillet over medium-high heat brown the ground beef that has been seasoned. Drain any of the excess grease from the meat and place meat on a plate, setting aside.
Back in the skillet, sauté the diced onions in olive oil for 1-2 minutes before adding in the minced garlic. Sauté these two ingredients until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant. Slowly whisk in the flour and cook until flour is a brown color.
Then whisk in the beef stock and heavy cream, bring to a boil then reduce the heat. Simmer until the sauce has reduced by half and has thickened. This will take around 7-8 minutes.
Add in the ground beef and cooked shell pasta, and cook for 1-2 minutes or until all the ingredients are heated through. Stir in the mild cheddar cheese and serve with a side salad and bread for a complete meal.
Even those picky eaters will enjoy this delicious creamy beef and shells recipe when it's on the dinner table.
Tips
I prefer to shred the mild sharp cheddar cheese from a block. The store bought has a coating on it that keeps it from sticking together. This does work but for a more even melt freshly shredded I feel works best.
When it comes to the sauce you can leave out the tomato sauce or replace it with a pasta sauce. You could even add a bit of spice to it by adding in some hot sauce.
Sprinkle some parmesan cheese and fresh parsley on top of the cheesy beef recipe right before serving.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or you can freeze the leftovers, once the pasta recipe has completely cooled. Place in a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months. To reheat allow to thaw in the fridge completely then reheat and serve.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
If you enjoyed this family-friendly meal then here are more great recipes that are perfect for busy weeknights.
- Hamburger Helper Beef Pasta
- Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Walking Taco Casserole With Fritos
- Easy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup
Easy Creamy Beef And Shells Recipe
This quick and easy creamy beef and shells recipe is a delicious meal that is sure to be a hit with the family.
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Medium Sized Shells
- 1 Pounds Ground Beef
- 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Seasoning Salt
- 1 Teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- 1-2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- ½ Medium Onion finely diced
- 1 Tablespoons Minced Garlic
- 2 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
- 2 Cups Beef Broth
- 15 Ounces Tomato Sauce
- ¾ Cup Heavy Cream
- 8 Ounces Mild Sharp Cheddar Cheese see notes
Instructions
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Add water to the saucepan and cook pasta shells according to the package. Drain from the water.
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In a large frying pan over medium-high heat add in the ground beef. Season with black pepper, seasoning salt, and Italian seasoning. Brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain any excess grease, place ground beef on a plate, and set aside.
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Heat up the olive oil in a frying pan. Add in the onion and sauté for 1-2 minutes then add in the garlic. Continue to sauté until onion is translucent and garlic is fragrant.
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Add in the flour and cook until the flour is a light brown color. Slowly whisk in the beef stock and tomato sauce.
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Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer. Make sure to stir it every so often until the sauce has reduced by half and has thickened. This will take about 7-8 minutes.
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Add in the pasta shells, ground beef, and heavy cream. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until all is heated through.
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Stir in the cheese and allow to melt then serve.
Recipe Notes
I prefer to use the block cheese and shred it by hand.
The nutritional information is based on information a database program My Creative Manner uses. The nutritional information that is collected may vary depending ingredients and amounts used.
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