Creamy Beef and Shells

Description

Bring back the ultimate childhood comfort food with this ultra-creamy, cheesy, and deeply savory Creamy Beef and Shells. This recipe combines perfectly seasoned, browned ground beef with tender pasta shells, all brought together by a rich, velvety cheddar cheese sauce made from scratch. It is a quick, one-pot-style meal that tastes a million times better than anything out of a box, making it the perfect family-friendly dinner for busy weeknights. Ready in less than 30 minutes!

Ingredients

• 8 oz Medium pasta shells (Conchiglie)
• 1 lb Lean ground beef
• 1 small Yellow onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
• 2 cups Beef broth
• 1 cup Heavy cream (or half-and-half)
• 2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded

Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta shells according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Brown the Beef: In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook until the meat is fully browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Drain any excess grease.
3. Add Aromatics and Spices: Stir in the minced garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 1–2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant and the tomato paste darkens slightly.
4. Build the Sauce: Sprinkle the flour over the beef mixture and stir well to coat, cooking for 1 minute. Slowly pour in the beef broth and heavy cream, whisking continuously to combine and dissolve the flour. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
5. Thicken: Let the sauce simmer gently for 3–5 minutes over medium-low heat until it begins to thicken beautifully.
6. Combine and Melt: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the cooked pasta shells and the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir continuously until the cheese is completely melted and a smooth, creamy sauce coats every single shell. Serve warm!