Description
Homemade creamy beef and shells deliver comfort through hearty pasta shells smothered in rich, meaty sauce. Familiar ingredients create nostalgic flavors you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 oz (226 g) medium pasta shells
- 1 ½ cups (170 g) cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 small sweet onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (237 ml) beef stock
- 1 (15 oz or 425 g) can marinara sauce
- ¾ cup (177 ml) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (59 ml) sour cream
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook pasta shells in salted water until al dente, drain, and reserve.
- Beef Browning: In a skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground beef until thoroughly browned, breaking into crumbly pieces and draining excess fat.
- Aromatic Base: In the same skillet, quickly sauté onions and garlic, creating a fragrant foundation for the sauce.
- Sauce Construction: Sprinkle flour to create a light roux, then gradually whisk in beef stock, marinara sauce, and seasonings (Italian seasoning, dried parsley, oregano, paprika), bringing to a gentle simmer for 7 minutes.
- Creamy Integration: Reincorporate cooked pasta and beef into the sauce, then stir in heavy cream, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, ensuring a smooth, luxurious consistency.
- Final Seasoning: Adjust flavors with salt and black pepper, stirring until cheese melts completely and sauce reaches a creamy, uniform texture.
- Presentation: Plate immediately, optionally garnishing with fresh chopped parsley for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook shells al dente to prevent mushiness and maintain ideal texture throughout the creamy dish.
- Fat Management: Drain excess beef fat to control dish richness and prevent greasy consistency while preserving deep meat flavor.
- Roux Technique: Continuously stir flour to prevent burning and create smooth sauce base, ensuring lump-free creamy texture.
- Seasoning Strategy: Add herbs gradually and taste repeatedly to build complex flavor profile without overwhelming individual ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg