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Creamy beef and shells dish served in a white bowl garnished with parsley

Creamy Beef and Shells

A quick, comforting one-pot meal that combines ground beef, pasta, and a creamy cheese sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauce Ingredients
  • 8 oz shell pasta
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 unit onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • for garnish Chopped parsley

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large pot, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion and minced garlic over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Drain any excess fat.
  3. Add the beef broth and pasta to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer for about 10-12 minutes until the pasta is tender.
  4. Stir in the heavy cream and cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
  5. Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley.

Notes

For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. You can add vegetables like peas or spinach for more nutrition. Drain fat well to keep the sauce from tasting oily. Stir often after adding cream to make sure the cheese melts evenly.