Description
Savory Creamy Beef and Shells Delight blends hearty ground beef with perfectly cooked pasta shells in a rich, cheesy sauce. Rich flavors from simple ingredients create a comforting meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 6 oz (170 g) extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 oz (226 g) medium pasta shells
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can tomato sauce
- ¾ cup (180 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ medium sweet onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ tsps Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Immerse shells in heavily salted water, cooking until perfectly tender. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Meat Searing: Heat cast iron skillet on medium-high, introducing ground beef. Crumble and brown meat until golden, eliminating excess fat. Incorporate diced onions, cooking until translucent, then add minced garlic and Italian seasoning.
- Sauce Development: Sprinkle flour over beef mixture, toasting briefly. Pour beef stock and tomato sauce, whisking smoothly to prevent clumping. Simmer until sauce thickens and reduces, creating a rich, velvety consistency.
- Creamy Integration: Reunite pasta and meat with sauce, introducing heavy cream. Stir continuously to ensure even heat distribution and develop a luxurious texture.
- Final Enhancement: Fold shredded cheese into the mixture until completely melted, creating a decadent coating. Season with salt and pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook shells just until al dente to prevent mushy texture and maintain a delightful bite.
- Beef Browning Technique: Ensure high heat and avoid overcrowding the pan for achieving a golden-brown, crispy meat crust that locks in rich flavor.
- Sauce Smoothing Secrets: Whisk flour and liquids gradually to prevent lumpy sauce, creating a silky-smooth consistency that clings perfectly to pasta.
- Cheese Melting Magic: Remove pan from heat when adding cheese to prevent separation and achieve a creamy, luxurious sauce that coats every shell.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg