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a bowl of creamy beef and shells pasta
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5 from 32 votes

Easy Creamy Beef and Shells

This 30-minute creamy beef and shells recipe is simple to make. It's a budget-friendly and comforting meal that has pasta in a tasty meat sauce with a hint of cream!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamy beef and shells, ground beef and shells, ground beef pasta
Servings: 4
Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces medium uncooked shells
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 (14 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.
  • Meanwhile, in a skillet, sauté the onion in the olive oil for 5 minutes over medium 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 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 481kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 687mg | Potassium: 899mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 797IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 5mg