Description
Comfort meets culinary magic in this creamy beef and shells masterpiece, where tender pasta cradles rich, seasoned ground beef in a velvety sauce. Pasta night gets an upgrade with this crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
Pasta:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) medium pasta shells
- Water for boiling
- Salt for pasta water
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small sweet onion, finely diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 (15-ounce) can marinara sauce
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot of salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge pasta shells and cook until perfectly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Introduce ground beef, crumbling and browning for 4 minutes until no pink remains. Eliminate excess fat and transfer meat to a separate plate.
- In the identical skillet, sauté diced onions for 2 minutes until translucent. Incorporate minced garlic and cook briefly until aromatic.
- Sprinkle flour into the skillet, whisking continuously for 1 minute to create a light roux. This technique ensures sauce thickness and prevents lumpy texture.
- Slowly integrate beef stock and marinara sauce, stirring consistently. Blend Italian seasoning, dried parsley, oregano, and smoked paprika for robust flavor complexity.
- Elevate mixture to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 6-7 minutes, stirring periodically until sauce reaches desired consistency.
- Reunite cooked pasta and browned beef into the skillet. Gently toss to ensure complete sauce coverage.
- Pour heavy cream and cook for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Fold in sour cream for additional richness.
- Introduce grated cheddar cheese, stirring until completely melted and sauce becomes luxuriously creamy.
- Transfer to serving dishes immediately. Optional: Garnish with fresh parsley for vibrant presentation and added flavor dimension.
Notes
- Pasta Selection Matters: Choose medium or large shells that can hold the creamy sauce effectively, ensuring each bite is packed with flavor.
- Fat Management: Drain excess beef fat thoroughly to prevent a greasy dish and maintain a clean, rich taste profile.
- Cream Consistency Control: Add heavy cream and sour cream gradually to prevent sauce from breaking or becoming too thin.
- Dietary Flexibility: Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for a lighter or vegetarian version of the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 579 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg