This 30-minute 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!
I think you'll also enjoy my Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe next.
Why you'll love it
Beef and shells is the ultimate easy pasta recipe that feels like an upgrade when it's actually hassle free to make. The ground beef and tomato sauce is rich and flavorful, and it reheats great. It's a favorite among kids as well.
This pasta with a meat sauce is perfect for when you want something quick and cozy after a busy workday. It's not fancy, but it sure tastes amazing! We're using a couple of all-purpose seasonings, and the results are fantastic, like a simple Bolognese.
What you'll need
- Shells - they're great little pockets for the sauce
- Olive oil - for sautéing
- Onion - sweet (Vidalia) onions are my go-to here
- Ground beef - I recommend using the leanest ground beef you can find because then you can skip the step of draining the fat
- Garlic powder and chili powder - our savory seasonings. Make sure your chili powder is mild.
- Canned tomato sauce - it's sometimes labelled as passata internationally
- Beef broth - adds depth of flavor
- Heavy cream - it's a touch of luxuriousness
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha's favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- For the other half of your onion, store in an onion saver to keep it fresher longer.
- I use my 10.25" Le Creuset cast iron skillet for this one.
- A cooking spoon comes in handy here. Melamine won't scratch your pots and pans.
- These angled measuring cups are my favorite for liquid measurements.
How to make beef and shells
This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Cook the pasta al dente. Meanwhile, sauté the onion. Add the beef, and brown it while breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess fat.
- Add in the seasonings, tomato sauce, and broth. Give it a stir, and then simmer until reduced slightly.
- Stir in the cream and add salt & pepper. Warm it through, toss with the pasta, and top with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
Substitutions and variations
- You could leave the cream out if you really need to, but I do love the richer flavor it adds to this recipe. It's a small amount. I wouldn't use half-and-half, though, as the tomatoes may curdle it.
- If you don't have any shells on hand, you can definitely sub with a different kind of pasta with this meat sauce.
- I'd add a cup of grated cheddar and stir it in towards the end if you want to make the sauce cheesy. The little ones will love that twist.
What to serve with beef and shells
- Readers enjoy adding toppings to this ground beef pasta like sour cream or a dollop of ricotta. I like fresh parsley. Be creative!
- Round out the meal with a delicious salad. Try my popular 10-minute Caesar Dressing from scratch that doesn't require a blender or this bright Creamy Cucumber Salad.
- Pasta night is always made better with a big slice of Cheesy Garlic Bread or breadsticks.
Leftovers and storage
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Reheat in a saucepan over a low heat until warmed through. If needed, add a splash of cream or broth to perk up the sauce.
- This sauce freezes well. I'd cook fresh pasta once you're ready to eat, though.
More simple ground beef recipes
If you made this creamy beef and shells recipe, please leave a star rating and review below! Ask me any questions not answered above. Tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram if you made any of my recipes.
Easy Creamy Beef and Shells
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.
Lori says
Excellent. New family favorite!!!
Natasha says
Fantastic!! Thanks, Lori!
Kristen says
If I make the sauce ahead of time do I do everything but the noodles? Like ground the meat ect?
Natasha says
Sure!
Liz says
Was thinking about throwing some grated Parmesan in it ? Or would it be better with a different cheese ?
Natasha says
I think parm would be delicious! I think some readers have tried cheddar too.
Jessica says
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!
Natasha says
That's so nice to hear!! 😀
Brenda says
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!!
Natasha says
That's great!! Love those additions, Brenda!
ceceilia Strain says
Looks very good! I will make sure I cook some tonight.
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Enjoy! Let us know how it goes.
Kaitlyn says
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 🙂
Natasha says
Love it!! Thanks for your review! 🙂
Polly says
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.
Natasha says
I'm so glad you were inspired by this recipe, Polly! 🙂
Sam says
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!
Natasha says
You're very welcome!! 😀
Mars says
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!
Natasha says
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. 🙂
Carla says
This recipe my family can't get enough of! Its out of this world😘😘
Natasha says
Aww thank you, Carla!!
Salma says
Made this pasta today and it was soooo delicious!! Can't wait to eat the leftovers tomorrow 😋
Natasha says
I'm so glad to hear that, Salma! Thanks for your review! 😀
Carol Timko says
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.
Meka says
Can you put cheese on top? & can you make it as casserole by putting it in the oven? 🙂
Natasha says
Absolutely! That would be delish. 🙂
Teresa Alves says
Can I make the sauce ahead of time. I want to double up in it?
It's delicious
Natasha says
Sure! That would be fine. It'll keep in the fridge for a few days no problem. I'm so glad you like it! 🙂
Shaelyn says
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!
Natasha says
Yay!! I'm so glad it was a hit!
Jenna says
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!
Natasha says
I'm thrilled to hear that, Jenna!! 🙂
Cammie says
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!
Kellie says
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.
Natasha says
I'm so happy it was a hit, Kellie! 😀
Gayle says
My family was oohing and aahing while eating this. Will be adding it to our list. So easy but delicious!
Natasha says
Wonderful!! Thanks for your review, Gayle! 😀
Jane says
I added just a little sugar. Yeah, I know but it tasted so good and rich. 😊
Natasha says
Nothing wrong with that!!
Alessandra Loiacono says
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!! :))
Natasha says
Thank you!! I'm so glad you liked it!
Sara says
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 😊
Natasha says
Wonderful!! I'm so happy they liked it. Thank you!
Leslie says
This recipe is delicious! My 12yo and husband love it! Served with a big salad. Thank you!
Natasha says
Fantastic!! You're very welcome, Leslie!
Fran says
Daughter is breastfeeding twins and they have developed a allergy to milk. Can I use almond milk in sauce or soy.
Fran.
Natasha says
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.
Nikki says
Or you can try coconut cream as I have the same issue.
Karen MacDonald says
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.
Natasha says
I'm glad you enjoyed it with the tweaks!! You could definitely add in a bit of cayenne pepper to kick up the original.
Helen says
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!
Natasha says
Fantastic! Love the ricotta idea. So happy everyone liked it.
Gerri Minton says
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.
Natasha says
That's fabulous!! So happy it was a hit in your home, Gerri! 🙂
Isabella says
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
Natasha says
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.
Jocelyn Parker says
What did I do wrong? My sauce is so Red!
Help!
Natasha says
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.
Jenny says
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.
Natasha says
Yes! I think that would work great.
Zue307 says
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! ❤️
Natasha says
Wow that's great!! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it so much!
Brigid says
Can I use half and half instead of heavy cream?
Natasha says
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.
Candice Johnson says
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!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you liked it! And yes, it would definitely be good on a different shape of pasta. 🙂
Vanessa G-V says
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!
Natasha says
I'm so pleased that it's a hit with you family! Thanks for your kind comment!
Elle says
Hi there-
Just wondering if ground turkey woulld work in place of beef?
thank you!
Natasha says
That should be fine. Pretty sure some other readers have tried that 🙂
Kayla says
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.
Natasha says
Excellent! I'm so happy that it was a hit with you both. 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
Galey Tucker says
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.
Natasha says
Great!! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!
Margaret Eberl says
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! 🙂
Natasha says
That's great!! Haha taco shells.. yes, love that!
Anecia Mascorro says
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?
Natasha says
I don’t see why not ☺️
Naomi Robinson says
Looking forward to making this soon!
Natasha says
Enjoy! 🙂 XO
Lauren says
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!
Natasha says
Awesome!! That makes me happy... so glad you like it. Love the balsamic idea! XO
Kaniz Sabah says
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
Natasha says
I'm so pleased that you enjoyed it!! Thanks for your sweet comment! 🙂
Kate says
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?
Natasha says
I think it would be fine. 🙂
Helga says
My son loved it 😁😁 we are just two, so leftovers today and he thinks is still so good 😁😁
Natasha says
I am so pleased to hear that!! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Julie Robbins says
This was so easy and soooooo good. No leftovers! Will make this again.
Natasha says
So glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Sylvie says
Just perfect with slightly less cream. I also added corn kernels in the end.
Natasha says
Wonderful!
Julianne Casper says
What about using sour cream
Natasha says
Sure, if you want a bit of a tangy taste.
Lissa says
Can I use half and half?
Natasha says
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.
Ranu says
Can you use milk instead of cream?
Natasha says
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.
Samantha says
What If you only have beef stock and not broth, will that work as well?
Natasha says
That's totally fine!