Description

Creamy Beef and Shells is a comforting and hearty pasta dish featuring seasoned ground beef simmered in a rich tomato and cream sauce. Combined with tender medium shell pasta and melty cheddar cheese, this dish delivers a perfect balance of savory flavors and creamy textures. It’s ideal for an easy weeknight dinner made entirely in one skillet.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Seasoning

1 lb. ground beef (85% lean)
Salt and Pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon mustard powder
1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)

Vegetables and Aromatics

1 small yellow onion, diced (or 1 tsp onion powder)
3 cloves garlic, minced (or ½ tsp garlic powder)

Sauce Ingredients

1 tablespoon flour (optional, for thickening)
1 cup beef broth
16 oz. tomato sauce
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon cream cheese, softened
½ cup half and half
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

Pasta

½ pound medium shell pasta

Garnishes and Serving

Fresh parsley, for garnish
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

Prep Ingredients and Boil Pasta Water: Shred the cheddar cheese and measure out all ingredients. Begin heating water in a large pot to boil the pasta shells later.
Cook Ground Beef and Onions: Season the ground beef with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the beef, breaking it apart, for about 4 minutes until browned. Add the diced onions and cook for 5 more minutes until onions soften and beef is fully cooked. Drain excess grease from the skillet.
Sauté Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add Spices and Flour: Mix in hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, mustard powder, red pepper flakes, and flour (if using). Cook this mixture for 1 to 2 minutes to toast the spices and lightly thicken the base.
Deglaze with Beef Broth: Pour in the beef broth and use a silicone spatula to scrape and loosen any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet, enhancing the sauce’s flavor.
Add Tomato Ingredients and Cream Cheese: Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, and softened cream cheese. Let the sauce simmer gently while you cook the pasta shells in boiling water for 7 to 8 minutes or according to package instructions. Optionally, add a few teaspoons of salt to the pasta water for seasoning.
Finish Sauce: Lower heat to low. Stir in the half and half to add creaminess. Remove the skillet from heat and gradually add shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until fully melted and incorporated into the sauce.
Combine Pasta with Sauce: Drain the cooked pasta shells and add them to the skillet. Stir thoroughly to combine pasta with creamy beef sauce.
Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the dish and serve with grated Parmesan cheese. This dish pairs well with garlic bread topped with cheese for an extra indulgent meal.

Notes

Use 85% lean ground beef for optimal flavor and moisture; leaner beef may result in a drier dish.
Optional flour helps thicken the sauce but can be omitted if you prefer a thinner consistency.
Add salt to pasta water to season the pasta well before mixing with the sauce.
Substitute onion and garlic powders if fresh ingredients are unavailable.
Adjust red pepper flakes based on your spice preference or omit for mild flavor.
Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
This dish can be reheated gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: creamy beef pasta, shell pasta recipe, ground beef skillet, easy dinner recipe, weeknight meal