Saucy Creamy Beef and Shells
Ready in just 20 minutes, this creamy beef and shells combines tender pasta shells, ground beef, and tomatoes in a thick, creamy sauce loaded with spices and shredded cheese.
Servings: 4 servings
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 deep frying pan
Ingredients
- 300 grams medium pasta shells uncooked
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small shallot finely chopped
- 1½ cups beef broth salted
- 1 398 mL can strained tomatoes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream/whipping cream
- 1½ tbsp cornstarch
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp mustard powder
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- green onions or chives chopped, to garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook until al dente according to package directions, less a minute so they finish cooking in the sauce. Drain and set aside.
- Finely mince the garlic and shallot, and shred the cheese so everything is ready before you begin.
- Heat the olive oil in a large, deep sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallot and sauté for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the shallot begins to soften.
- Add the ground beef. Cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Use a paper towel to remove any excess fat.
- Stir in the Italian seasoning, chili powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, and nutmeg. Cook for another minute, stirring, until fragrant.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth and cornstarch until no clumps remain.Pour into the skillet along with your can of strained tomatoes.Stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to slightly thicken.
- Stir in the heavy cream and gently stir until the sauce is well combined.Turn off the heat, then add the shredded cheese a handful at a time, stirring until just melted. Taste and add salt as needed; the amount will depend on the saltiness of your broth and cheese.
- Add the cooked pasta and toss until evenly coated and warm throughout. Garnish with sliced green onions or chives if desired, and serve right away.
Nutrition
Calories: 833kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 160mg | Sodium: 802mg | Potassium: 750mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1420IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 481mg | Iron: 5mg
