Description
This comforting beef and shells recipe is a nostalgic, family-friendly dish that combines tender pasta shells with hearty ground beef in a creamy tomato-based sauce. It’s a quick, easy, and budget-friendly comfort food inspired by American goulash and homemade hamburger helper.
Ingredients
- 12 oz medium pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside. Reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water.
- Sauté the aromatics: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onions and sauté for 3–4 minutes until soft. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Brown the beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Season and build the sauce: Stir in the tomato paste, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute. Pour in the tomato sauce and simmer for 5–6 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Make it creamy: Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta shells to the skillet. Toss gently until coated. Add reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Garnish and serve: Top with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- This recipe can be doubled for larger families or for leftovers.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Substitute shells with elbow macaroni, rotini, or penne.
- Mix in mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese with cheddar.
- This dish reheats well and is good for meal prep.
- Add spinach, peas, or finely chopped carrots for extra nutrition.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze in meal-size portions for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (estimated)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 28g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
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