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    Home » Beef

    Easy Creamy Beef and Shells

    Published: Apr 4, 2020 / Updated: Oct 27, 2020 / 99 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    This creamy beef and shells recipe is incredibly simple to make. It's a hearty and comforting family meal that you'll enjoy again and again!

    close-up of creamy ground beef and shells in a bowl

    This recipe is perfect for when you want something quick and cozy. This meal isn't fancy, but it sure tastes good. Chili powder and garlic powder are great all-purpose seasonings, so I threw them in here. You could even change up the seasonings if you wanted to. Some canned tomato sauce, a little beef broth, and a splash of cream at the end dresses up ground beef in under 30 minutes. I garnished it with a little fresh parsley for a pop of color and bit of herby flavor.

    You can even add some cheese to this recipe if you want to give it some Hamburger Helper vibes (mind you, I do have a separate recipe for Hamburger Helper), but you can't go wrong with extra cheese, right? I'd add a cup of grated cheddar and stir it in towards the end if you want to take that route. I can guarantee that would be popular with the kiddos. 😉

    creamy beef and shells close-up

    Beef and shells recipe notes & tips:

    • I recommend using the leanest ground beef you can find, because then you can skip the step of draining the fat.
    • If you don't have any shells on hand, you can definitely sub with a different kind of pasta. 
    • If you really need to, you can leave the cream out, but I do love the richer flavor it adds to this recipe. 
    • This sauce freezes well (I'd add the pasta once you're ready to eat, though).

    Other simple ground beef recipes you'll love:

    • Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta
    • Easy Hamburger Soup
    • Easy Taco Casserole Recipe
    • Creamy Taco Soup
    • Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff
    • Ground Beef Pasta

    easy creamy beef and shells in two bowls

    Will you make this creamy beef and shells recipe? 

    Questions? Let me know in the comments below.

    close-up of creamy ground beef and shells in a bowl

    Easy Creamy Beef and Shells

    This creamy beef and shells recipe is incredibly simple to make. It's a hearty and comforting family meal that you'll enjoy again and again!
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 481 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 8 ounces medium uncooked shells
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1/2 medium onion chopped
    • 1 pound extra lean ground beef
    • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or use 3 cloves minced garlic)
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 (14 fluid ounce) can tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
    • 1/3 cup beef broth
    • 1/4 cup heavy/whipping cream
    • Salt & pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Boil water for your pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions.
    • In a skillet, sauté the onion in the olive oil for 5 minutes over medium-high heat (ok if it browns a little).
    • Add the beef to the pan and cook it until it's browned, breaking it up with your spoon as you go along (about 5 minutes). If there's a lot of excess fat, spoon most of it out.
    • Stir in the garlic powder and chili powder, then add the tomato sauce and beef broth. Give it a good stir and cook it for 4-5 minutes or so (reduce the heat so it's gently simmering). The sauce should reduce a bit, but don't let it go dry.
    • Stir in the cream and season with salt & pepper as needed. Let the cream warm through and then toss with the drained pasta shells. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    • Serves 4-6 depending on how much people eat.
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 481kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 34gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 687mgPotassium: 899mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 797IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 5mg
    Keyword creamy beef and shells, ground beef and shells, ground beef pasta
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Cheesy Mozzarella Chicken Bake
    Creamy Pasta Primavera »

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    1. Kristen says

      February 2, 2023 at 8:49 AM

      If I make the sauce ahead of time do I do everything but the noodles? Like ground the meat ect?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 2, 2023 at 9:56 PM

        Sure!

        Reply
    2. Liz says

      November 14, 2022 at 8:30 PM

      Was thinking about throwing some grated Parmesan in it ? Or would it be better with a different cheese ?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 15, 2022 at 10:30 AM

        I think parm would be delicious! I think some readers have tried cheddar too.

        Reply
    3. Jessica says

      October 28, 2022 at 8:30 PM

      Huge hit with my kids! I cut the chili powder in half and only had a small can of tomato sauce, so I increased the beef broth a little bit to compensate. I also didn't have heavy cream so I added a scoop of sour cream. All my kids absolutely loved it! Very of friendly, SUPER easy to make, this was an instant hit for our family!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 28, 2022 at 8:55 PM

        That's so nice to hear!! 😀

        Reply
    4. Brenda says

      October 3, 2022 at 4:49 PM

      This was so delicious and easy. I added green beans and a few shakes of ground thyme. I put it in a casserole dish and placed french fried onions on top…amazing!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 3, 2022 at 5:00 PM

        That's great!! Love those additions, Brenda!

        Reply
    5. ceceilia Strain says

      September 15, 2022 at 6:14 PM

      Looks very good! I will make sure I cook some tonight.

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        September 15, 2022 at 6:49 PM

        Enjoy! Let us know how it goes.

        Reply
    6. Kaitlyn says

      August 29, 2022 at 5:00 PM

      5 stars
      My kids are obsessed quit this stuff. It’s DELICIOUS!! Very easy and very filling! I double it for our family of 4 so we can have a lot of leftovers 🙂

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 29, 2022 at 9:51 PM

        Love it!! Thanks for your review! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Polly says

      July 8, 2022 at 3:59 PM

      5 stars
      This was extra yummy! I had to make a few substitutions and additions. No tomato sauce so I used Rotel. Added sautéed mushrooms, cumin, oregano, Mexican corn and cheddar cheese. Hubby is getting seconds now.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 8, 2022 at 4:47 PM

        I'm so glad you were inspired by this recipe, Polly! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Sam says

      May 17, 2022 at 6:37 PM

      5 stars
      I can always count on Natasha for the easy and comforting meals. This one is absolutely delicious! Thanks for always being a constant in our household!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 17, 2022 at 10:04 PM

        You're very welcome!! 😀

        Reply
    9. Mars says

      April 28, 2022 at 10:03 PM

      So so good! I was hesitant since some comments mentioned it being to acidic, but I just added a little more of heavy cream and it’s sooooo good!!!! Put the sauce on top of spaghetti 🥰😍 yum!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 29, 2022 at 9:39 AM

        I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!! Yup, more cream definitely works, or even add in a pinch of sugar to offset that acidic canned tomato taste. 🙂

        Reply
    10. Carla says

      April 27, 2022 at 12:55 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe my family can't get enough of! Its out of this world😘😘

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 27, 2022 at 10:39 PM

        Aww thank you, Carla!!

        Reply
    11. Salma says

      April 25, 2022 at 10:45 AM

      5 stars
      Made this pasta today and it was soooo delicious!! Can't wait to eat the leftovers tomorrow 😋

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 25, 2022 at 12:44 PM

        I'm so glad to hear that, Salma! Thanks for your review! 😀

        Reply
    12. Carol Timko says

      April 6, 2022 at 4:40 PM

      I found it was a little to acidy tasting so added so cream cheese and it was super. Gave it a more smother and subtle taste.

      Reply
    13. Meka says

      March 31, 2022 at 2:46 PM

      Can you put cheese on top? & can you make it as casserole by putting it in the oven? 🙂

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 31, 2022 at 3:19 PM

        Absolutely! That would be delish. 🙂

        Reply
    14. Teresa Alves says

      March 20, 2022 at 1:14 PM

      5 stars
      Can I make the sauce ahead of time. I want to double up in it?
      It's delicious

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 21, 2022 at 10:08 AM

        Sure! That would be fine. It'll keep in the fridge for a few days no problem. I'm so glad you like it! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Shaelyn says

      February 28, 2022 at 7:02 PM

      5 stars
      Super easy and delicious! I have two small kids who really enjoyed it. I did top theirs with cheese and sour cream (I used chipotle chili powder so they thought it was spicy). Definitely will make again!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 28, 2022 at 9:16 PM

        Yay!! I'm so glad it was a hit!

        Reply
    16. Jenna says

      January 9, 2022 at 3:17 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe was so good! The flavors were great and it was a perfect base to add toppings! I just added a little shredded cheese and sour cream on top and it was sooo good! Definitely going to be a repeat!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 9, 2022 at 4:13 PM

        I'm thrilled to hear that, Jenna!! 🙂

        Reply
    17. Cammie says

      January 6, 2022 at 8:42 PM

      I made this yesterday and it was so yummy! I added in a splash of red wine which added a lot to it. I was missing an herby flavor so I added in Italian seasoning, but next time I will use fresh Italian parsley and fresh basil. I will also add a little cornstarch to thicken up the sauce, it was very thin and slid right off the pasta. Thank you for a great base recipe, excited to try a few different things next time!

      Reply
    18. Kellie says

      January 4, 2022 at 5:00 PM

      5 stars
      Family loved it! I will have to double the recipe next time because they are every last drop. I did a tiny bit of sugar to balance the acidity in the tomato’s.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 4, 2022 at 8:41 PM

        I'm so happy it was a hit, Kellie! 😀

        Reply
    19. Gayle says

      December 7, 2021 at 6:32 PM

      5 stars
      My family was oohing and aahing while eating this. Will be adding it to our list. So easy but delicious!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 8, 2021 at 9:29 AM

        Wonderful!! Thanks for your review, Gayle! 😀

        Reply
    20. Jane says

      November 16, 2021 at 3:01 PM

      I added just a little sugar. Yeah, I know but it tasted so good and rich. 😊

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 16, 2021 at 5:03 PM

        Nothing wrong with that!!

        Reply
    21. Alessandra Loiacono says

      May 15, 2021 at 12:32 PM

      5 stars
      This is DELICIOUS!!! I made it to the t and it was awesome! I love the flavor!! It was different with the addition of chili, but oh, so good!! Thank you so much! Another winner recipe!! :))

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 15, 2021 at 10:10 PM

        Thank you!! I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    22. Sara says

      April 23, 2021 at 5:56 PM

      This was a fantastic recipe. I didn't have shells so I used rigatoni and it turned out delicious. I love all of your recipes! My kids are 5 and 2 and ate every bite! Thanks 😊

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 23, 2021 at 6:59 PM

        Wonderful!! I'm so happy they liked it. Thank you!

        Reply
    23. Leslie says

      April 18, 2021 at 2:11 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe is delicious! My 12yo and husband love it! Served with a big salad. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 18, 2021 at 2:12 PM

        Fantastic!! You're very welcome, Leslie!

        Reply
    24. Fran says

      March 20, 2021 at 6:55 PM

      Daughter is breastfeeding twins and they have developed a allergy to milk. Can I use almond milk in sauce or soy.

      Fran.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 20, 2021 at 8:04 PM

        Hi! Almond or soy milk are watery. They just won't give the same effect as cream at all. You could possibly try a dairy-free whipping cream like Silk makes.

        Reply
      • Nikki says

        November 15, 2021 at 11:43 AM

        Or you can try coconut cream as I have the same issue.

        Reply
    25. Karen MacDonald says

      March 19, 2021 at 8:12 PM

      I didn’t have all ingredients: substituted fire roasted salsa tomatoes and added sour cream instead of heavy cream. That help cut some of the heat from the tomatoes. First time making it and my husband loved it! Not sure he’d like the original recipe since he’s a spicy kinda guy.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 20, 2021 at 10:30 AM

        I'm glad you enjoyed it with the tweaks!! You could definitely add in a bit of cayenne pepper to kick up the original.

        Reply
    26. Helen says

      March 17, 2021 at 12:44 PM

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner last night and it was delicious! Finished it off with a scoop of ricotta atop each bowl and served with a salad. My family had no complaints! Definitely will make again!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 18, 2021 at 9:40 AM

        Fantastic! Love the ricotta idea. So happy everyone liked it.

        Reply
    27. Gerri Minton says

      January 16, 2021 at 4:37 PM

      My husband said "This is definitely a MAKE AGAIN"!! I followed the directions to a "T"*. All I can say it is wonderful.
      *As I don't eat meat I substituted ground turkey.
      Thank you for this great recipe.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 16, 2021 at 5:27 PM

        That's fabulous!! So happy it was a hit in your home, Gerri! 🙂

        Reply
    28. Isabella says

      December 31, 2020 at 9:59 AM

      I haven't done it yet, i just want to know what can I use instead of heavy cream i couldn't find it and is the beef broth necessary? Thank you

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 31, 2020 at 10:26 AM

        Hmmm well the beef broth provides some liquid, and some flavor and saltiness. Use water instead and be sure to season the sauce well at the end (maybe use part of a bouillon cube if you happen to have some). As for the cream, you could probably use half-and-half, but there's a chance it'll curdle with the acidity from the tomatoes here.

        Reply
        • Jocelyn Parker says

          March 19, 2021 at 7:28 PM

          What did I do wrong? My sauce is so Red!
          Help!

          Reply
          • Natasha says

            March 19, 2021 at 7:41 PM

            Is the beef cooked properly? Did you use the same type of tomatoes I did? Did you remember to add the cream? As long as it tastes good, nothing to worry about. 🙂 Light in photos etc. can vary.

            Reply
    29. Jenny says

      November 16, 2020 at 8:07 AM

      I would love to add a green veggie to this dish! Do you think some fresh baby spinach added at the end would be a good addition? Would love to keep it all in one pot haha.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 16, 2020 at 9:06 AM

        Yes! I think that would work great.

        Reply
    30. Zue307 says

      November 12, 2020 at 6:17 AM

      Made it for dinner tonight; I had everything I needed plus the shells! We've just finished eating. The sauce is better than bolognese, which I normally cook. This will be my sauce from now onwards. Thank you very much! ❤️

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 12, 2020 at 10:02 AM

        Wow that's great!! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it so much!

        Reply
    31. Brigid says

      November 2, 2020 at 9:12 AM

      Can I use half and half instead of heavy cream?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 2, 2020 at 10:11 AM

        That should be fine, but there's a chance it'll make the sauce a bit grainy (it can curdle) due to the acidity of the tomatoes. It'll still taste fine, though.

        Reply
    32. Candice Johnson says

      November 1, 2020 at 4:35 PM

      5 stars
      This sauce is amazing! I think you could put it on any kind of pasta that you choose. I used tomato sauce and the heavy cream and it was so good. Easy Peezy quick meal! Perfectly delicious!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 2, 2020 at 8:42 AM

        I'm so happy you liked it! And yes, it would definitely be good on a different shape of pasta. 🙂

        Reply
    33. Vanessa G-V says

      October 18, 2020 at 8:17 PM

      5 stars
      What a great recipe! My family loves this. You don't even know there isn't cheese in this but it's so creamy (although we do add a bit of shredded cheddar on top to make it extra special!) This recipe literally takes 30 min total..it's awesome in a big batch and is great re-heated. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 19, 2020 at 7:45 AM

        I'm so pleased that it's a hit with you family! Thanks for your kind comment!

        Reply
    34. Elle says

      October 13, 2020 at 1:11 PM

      Hi there-

      Just wondering if ground turkey woulld work in place of beef?

      thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 13, 2020 at 1:17 PM

        That should be fine. Pretty sure some other readers have tried that 🙂

        Reply
    35. Kayla says

      October 5, 2020 at 12:33 PM

      5 stars
      This was SO good!! My husband and I loved it. I don't know why, but it feels like such a step up from spaghetti even though it was super easy to make! It's definitely going into our regular rotation.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 5, 2020 at 3:42 PM

        Excellent! I'm so happy that it was a hit with you both. 🙂 Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    36. Galey Tucker says

      September 29, 2020 at 8:40 PM

      I made this tonight. I used penne instead of shells and I added cheddar cheese. It was absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to eat the leftovers tomorrow.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 30, 2020 at 8:43 AM

        Great!! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    37. Margaret Eberl says

      August 3, 2020 at 3:53 PM

      5 stars
      Made this tonight. Turned out great! I could totally see adding the cheddar as you suggested and putting a dallop of sour cream on top! My son thought the shells tasted like taco shells so may as well play that up! 🙂

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 3, 2020 at 7:50 PM

        That's great!! Haha taco shells.. yes, love that!

        Reply
    38. Anecia Mascorro says

      June 30, 2020 at 11:32 PM

      Would using chicken broth change the flavor up a lot, or do you think the beef would be enough that it’d still work and taste good?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 1, 2020 at 7:55 AM

        I don’t see why not ☺️

        Reply
    39. Naomi Robinson says

      June 15, 2020 at 1:07 AM

      5 stars
      Looking forward to making this soon!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 15, 2020 at 8:36 AM

        Enjoy! 🙂 XO

        Reply
    40. Lauren says

      June 3, 2020 at 8:00 PM

      Amazing! I made the recipe exactly as you wrote it first and it was delicious, so of course the next time I had to add to it. The second time, I added a generous splash of balsamic vinegar and about a 1/2 tsp of onion powder and that was good, too. Thanks for sharing a great, quick dinner!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 4, 2020 at 9:07 AM

        Awesome!! That makes me happy... so glad you like it. Love the balsamic idea! XO

        Reply
    41. Kaniz Sabah says

      April 29, 2020 at 8:41 PM

      Hi Natasha,

      I made this pasta yesterday with Penne as I could not find the Shell pasta. My husband and I loved it! It was so simple to make and did not take much effort. I am really looking forward to some great cookbooks by you. Keep sharing the amazing work. Much love.

      - Kaniz

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 30, 2020 at 10:07 AM

        I'm so pleased that you enjoyed it!! Thanks for your sweet comment! 🙂

        Reply
    42. Kate says

      April 26, 2020 at 12:20 PM

      The only meat I have on hand is mild sausage (leftover from the tuna pasta I made last night, yum!). Would it be ok to use that instead of beef or would it taste weird with the beef broth?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 26, 2020 at 12:28 PM

        I think it would be fine. 🙂

        Reply
    43. Helga says

      April 20, 2020 at 7:46 AM

      My son loved it 😁😁 we are just two, so leftovers today and he thinks is still so good 😁😁

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 20, 2020 at 9:00 AM

        I am so pleased to hear that!! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂

        Reply
    44. Julie Robbins says

      April 16, 2020 at 11:14 AM

      This was so easy and soooooo good. No leftovers! Will make this again.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 16, 2020 at 11:59 AM

        So glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂

        Reply
    45. Sylvie says

      April 14, 2020 at 6:46 AM

      Just perfect with slightly less cream. I also added corn kernels in the end.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 14, 2020 at 9:07 AM

        Wonderful!

        Reply
    46. Julianne Casper says

      April 10, 2020 at 7:03 PM

      What about using sour cream

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 10, 2020 at 8:06 PM

        Sure, if you want a bit of a tangy taste.

        Reply
    47. Lissa says

      April 10, 2020 at 6:55 AM

      Can I use half and half?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 10, 2020 at 10:14 AM

        There’s a chance the tomato sauce will curdle it and it’ll go a bit grainy, but if you don’t mind, it’ll still taste fine.

        Reply
    48. Ranu says

      April 9, 2020 at 2:37 PM

      Can you use milk instead of cream?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 9, 2020 at 2:54 PM

        I'd probably just leave it out. Milk is notorious for curdling (especially with tomato sauce), and I don't really think it would add much to the sauce.

        Reply
    49. Samantha says

      April 9, 2020 at 10:01 AM

      What If you only have beef stock and not broth, will that work as well?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 9, 2020 at 10:05 AM

        That's totally fine!

        Reply

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