Description
Comfort meets culinary magic in this creamy beef and shells masterpiece, blending hearty ground beef with pasta’s perfect curves. Cheese-laden shells and rich sauce create an irresistible dinner you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (450 g) ground beef
Pasta and Dairy:
- 8 ounces (225 g) medium pasta shells
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (120 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 g) tomato sauce
- 1 cup (240 ml) beef broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, submerging pasta shells until they reach perfect al dente consistency. Carefully drain and reserve.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, introducing ground beef and methodically fragmenting meat while cooking until rich golden brown hues develop.
- Eliminate excess fatty residue from the skillet, then introduce finely chopped onions, sautéing until translucent and aromatic. Quickly integrate minced garlic, allowing its essence to permeate.
- Pour tomato sauce, beef broth, and aromatic seasonings into the meat mixture. Allow ingredients to harmonize through gentle simmering, creating a robust flavor profile.
- Transition heat to low, gently incorporating heavy cream. Gradually fold in cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, stirring continuously until a luxuriously smooth sauce emerges.
- Delicately introduce reserved pasta shells, ensuring each piece becomes thoroughly enrobed in the velvety sauce. Maintain gentle heat for several minutes to guarantee complete temperature integration.
- Perform final seasoning adjustments, balancing salt and pepper to personal preference. Plate immediately, optionally embellishing with additional Parmesan or fresh parsley for enhanced visual appeal and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Choose high-quality ground beef with slightly higher fat content for richer flavor and more tender texture.
- Drain excess grease thoroughly to prevent an overly greasy dish and maintain a balanced sauce consistency.
- Grate fresh Parmesan cheese instead of using pre-shredded varieties for smoother melting and more intense cheese flavor.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk and use lean ground beef or ground turkey.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 636
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 885 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 116 mg