Description
Conchitas with ground beef brings delicious Mexican comfort straight to your dinner table, packed with zesty spices and hearty meat. Your family will savor this quick, satisfying shell pasta dish that delivers authentic flavor in just minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Proteins:
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
Starches/Shells:
- 3 cups conchas shells
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 6 roma tomatoes
- ¾ cup white onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- ¾ cup frozen carrots
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
- 3 bay leaves
Liquids and Sauces:
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup tomato sauce
Seasonings:
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until the oil shimmers and moves smoothly across the surface.
- Add 1 ½ pounds ground beef to the hot oil, breaking it into small crumbles and cooking for 6-8 minutes until no pink remains.
- Incorporate 3 cups uncooked concha shells, 3 minced garlic cloves, 6 quartered roma tomatoes, ½ cup chicken broth, ½ cup tomato sauce, and ¾ teaspoon ground cumin into the beef mixture.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let the ingredients meld together for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Sprinkle in ½ teaspoon oregano, ¾ cup frozen carrots, and 3 bay leaves, continuing to simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
- Fold in ¾ cup chopped white onions and cook for a final 5 minutes until onions become translucent and tender.
- Remove bay leaves before serving the conchitas over steamed white rice, seasoning with salt and pepper to your preference.
- Optional: Enhance heat with a pinch of red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños if you desire a spicier dish.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to make the dish lighter and more diet-friendly.
- Cut back on sodium by using low-sodium broth and carefully measuring your salt when seasoning.
- Shell pasta can vary, so choose small shells that will hold the sauce well and cook evenly.
- Let the dish rest for 10 minutes after cooking to help flavors meld and thicken the sauce slightly before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Beef
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 455 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg