Description
Creamy beef and shells bring pure comfort right to your dinner table, blending tender pasta and rich ground beef into a satisfying meal that feels like a warm hug from grandma’s kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Pasta:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup medium pasta shells
Dairy and Liquid Base:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil 4 quarts of water in a large pot with 1 tablespoon salt. Drop 1 cup pasta shells into rapidly boiling water and cook for 8-9 minutes until perfectly tender. Drain pasta completely in a colander.
- Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble 1 pound ground beef into the pan and add 1 finely chopped medium onion. Cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring frequently to break beef into small pieces.
- Add 3 minced garlic cloves to the beef mixture. Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until garlic becomes fragrant and beef turns completely brown with no pink remaining.
- Pour 2 cups beef broth into the skillet. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning over the meat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 4-5 minutes, allowing liquid to reduce slightly.
- Slowly pour 1 cup heavy cream into the skillet. Stir continuously to integrate cream with beef mixture. Simmer at 200°F for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens and becomes smooth.
- Gently fold cooked pasta shells into the creamy beef sauce. Ensure every shell gets coated evenly. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper to enhance flavors.
- Remove skillet from heat. Serve immediately in warm bowls, ensuring sauce remains creamy and hot. Garnish with additional Italian seasoning if desired.
Notes
- Pasta selection matters, so choose medium or large shells that can hold the creamy sauce and catch beef bits.
- Draining excess fat from the beef prevents the dish from becoming greasy and ensures a cleaner flavor profile.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, which reduces calories without sacrificing creaminess.
- Gluten-free friends can substitute regular pasta shells with chickpea or lentil pasta for added protein and a similar texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Beef
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 512 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg