Description
Comfort meets culinary delight in this creamy beef and shells masterpiece, blending rich ground beef with perfectly cooked pasta shells. Hearty flavors meld seamlessly, promising a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Pasta:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 16 oz jumbo pasta shells
Dairy and Creamy Components:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Carefully add jumbo pasta shells and cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sauté diced onions until translucent, then add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small crumbles and cooking until completely browned and no pink remains, approximately 7-9 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the beef and return skillet to medium heat.
- Incorporate heavy cream, cream cheese, and sour cream into the beef mixture, stirring continuously until smoothly combined.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese into the mixture, stirring until fully melted and creating a rich, creamy sauce.
- Season the beef mixture with salt, black pepper, and dried oregano, stirring to distribute flavors evenly.
- Drain cooked pasta shells and gently fold them into the creamy beef sauce, ensuring each shell is generously coated.
- Remove skillet from heat and garnish with freshly chopped parsley.
- Serve immediately while hot, allowing the cheese to remain gloriously melted and the shells to be completely enveloped in the luxurious sauce.
Notes
- Drain pasta shells thoroughly to prevent watery sauce and ensure the creamy mixture clings perfectly to each shell.
- Select high-fat ground beef (80/20) for maximum flavor and richness in the sauce, allowing better rendering and juiciness.
- Use room temperature cream cheese to help it melt smoothly without lumps, creating a silkier, more consistent sauce texture.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and use lean ground turkey instead of beef, reducing overall calorie content while maintaining delicious flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 651
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 596 mg
- Fat: 41 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg