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Creamy Beef and Shells

A comforting one-pot dinner featuring pasta shells, beef, and a rich creamy sauce that comes together in under 40 minutes with minimal cleanup.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound Lean ground beef
  • 8 ounces Medium pasta shells Important for catching sauce
  • 1 Onion, chopped small
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced Fresh is best
  • 15 ounces Tomato sauce Or crushed tomatoes if needed
  • 1 cup Heavy cream Half and half can be used for a lighter sauce
  • 1 cup Shredded sharp cheddar cheese Add more if desired
  • 1 tablespoon Dried Italian herbs Oregano, basil, or similar
  • to taste Salt and pepper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Brown the ground beef in a sturdy pot over medium heat, then remove and set aside.
  2. Sauté the chopped onion in the beef drippings until soft.
  3. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
  4. Return the browned beef to the pot and add tomato sauce and dried herbs with a splash of water.
  5. Bring to a simmer, then add the pasta shells.
  6. Cook the shells in the sauce, stirring occasionally until they are nearly tender.
  7. Stir in the heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt if necessary.

Notes

This dish is great for meal prep and reheats well. Feel free to add vegetables or use turkey/chicken as a substitution.