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    Meals » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Creamy Shells and Beef

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Oct 26, 2022 by Dee

    Creamy Shells and Beef is an easy ground beef pasta recipe in creamy tomato sauce. Cheesy beef and shells is a delicious recipe for busy weeknights and delicious comfort food the whole family loves! via @meamel

    Creamy Shells and Beef is an easy ground beef pasta recipe in creamy tomato sauce. Cheesy beef and shells is an easy recipe for busy weeknights and delicious comfort food the whole family loves!

    Jump to Recipe -
    ground beef pasta recipe with pasta shells in creamy tomato sauce in dutch oven
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Creamy Beef and Shells in One Pot
    • Cook Time
    • How to Store
    • Recipe Variations
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    I have been making this easy creamy beef and shells recipe for over 6 years. This delicious recipe is a family favorite and reader favorite, and it's a personal favorite, too! I've updated the original post with newer photos and cooking tips to make this easy dinner even easier!

    I love easy ground beef pasta recipes like spaghetti and meat sauce, creamy chicken pasta and ground beef stroganoff. These easy ground beef recipes are pretty much necessary for our survival and basically homemade hamburger helper!

    Even my picky eaters love when I make creamy one pot shells and beef! Best of all, you only have one pot to clean!

    That's what's so great about one dish meals. You don't need to put a lot of time or effort into dinner, but everyone is fed and happy, and you feel like Super Mom, even when you're exhausted.

    shell pasta, ground meat, marinara sauce, heavy cream, Parm and seasonings

    Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients for this creamy ground beef pasta recipe. Look for them in your grocery store or online.

    • ground beef -- use extra lean ground beef if you can so you don't have to drain the grease
    •  olive oil
    • yellow onion or white onion -- chopped
    • garlic -- chopped
    • sea salt
    • ground black pepper
    • marinara sauce -- or pasta sauce, tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
    • water
    • shell pasta -- uncooked pasta shells. Use your favorite pasta if needed. Penne pasta and rigatoni work well.
    • Italian seasoning mix
    • heavy cream -- or half and half to make creamy pasta
    • Parmesan cheese -- for cheesy pasta

    How to Make Creamy Beef and Shells in One Pot

    First, cook the ground meat and a chopped onion in a large skillet or Dutch oven on medium heat. If you have a lot of grease and need to drain it, do that first, and then season the beef.

    brown ground beef and onions in dutch oven

    Next, add your seasonings to the meat, and cook until no longer pink.

    Then, add your pasta shells, marinara sauce and water. Give it a good stir.

    When you add the water, it will be very soupy. But, as the pasta cooks, it will absorb all of that liquid, so don't panic!

    Cover the pot until it comes to a boil, then remove the lid, stir and keep an eye on it. You'll need to stir every so often so that the pasta doesn't stick.

    stir ground beef pasta and marinara sauce

    When the liquid starts to reduce, and the pasta shells are almost done, stir in your heavy cream. Then, stir in the Parmesan cheese.

    This delicious creamy shells and beef will continue to thicken as it cools, so if it seems a little thin, don't worry.

    Believe me, I've been making this cheesy ground beef pasta for years now, and it turns out perfect every time!

    Cook Time

    Total cooking time for this hearty meal is around 20 - 25 minutes. It takes about 5 to 6 minutes to cook the ground beef and about 10 minutes for the pasta to cook.

    You also want to allow a little time for the pasta to thicken.

    stir cream and Parmesan cheese into ground beef pasta

    You can see how rich and creamy the pasta is. The shells hold that creamy rich tomato sauce and ground beef so that every bite is filled with amazing flavor!

    As soon as you have al dente pasta, you're ready to eat! You can top the tender pasta shells with more Parmesan and fresh parsley for extra flavor.

    How to Store

    Refrigerate leftover pasta in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can freeze leftovers from this one-pot meal for longer storage. We do this with great results!

    creamy shells and beef in tomato sauce on wooden spoon

    Recipe Variations

    You could make this creamy beef pasta recipe even easier by using dried onions, onion powder or garlic powder -- it's up to you. Throw in a pinch of red pepper flakes for more spice!

    If you want to make this easy pasta dish with the entire box of pasta, use 3 cups of water or beef broth. You will also need a large jar of pasta sauce or diced tomatoes so the sauce isn't too water. See the recipe card for exact measurements.

    Change the protein in this easy ground beef recipe -- use ground chicken or ground turkey or ground Italian sausage. You can change the cheese to cheddar cheese or American cheese for a different flavor.

    If you have a pressure cooker, make Instant Pot Creamy Shells and Beef.

    Pro tip - What really saves time is having chopped onions waiting in the freezer. If I cut a whole onion, I'll try to freeze half for later, and eventually, I'll have a nice stash of onions when I need them!

    creamy-one-pot-shells-and-beef-skillet

    I'm  happy to report that the whole family loved this creamy one-pot shells and beef. It's the ultimate comfort food!

    I served a simple side salad and homemade garlic bread, which was just enough to make this easy weeknight dinner a complete meal.

    Recipe

    ground beef pasta, creamy shells and beef, in creamy tomato sauce in dutch oven

    Creamy Shells and Beef

    Published by Dee
    Creamy Shells and Beef is an easy ground beef pasta recipe in creamy tomato sauce. Cheesy beef and shells is an easy recipe for busy weeknights and delicious comfort food the whole family loves!
    5 from 19 votes
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    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 7 servings
    Calories 546 kcal

    Equipment

    • dutch oven

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ pounds fresh extra lean ground beef
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ cup yellow or white onion chopped
    • 2 tablespoons garlic chopped
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 2 cups marinara sauce, pasta sauce, tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
    • 2 cups water
    • 2 cups medium shells uncooked (about ½ of a 1 pound box)
    • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning mix
    • 1 cup heavy cream or half and half
    • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese optional

    Instructions
     

    • In a large pot or skillet, saute the onions in olive oil until soft
    • Add ground beef, and cook until brown
    • Add the garlic, salt and pepper
    • Stir in the tomato sauce, pasta and water
    • Cover and bring to a boil, then remove lid, and cook for about 10 minutes or until pasta starts to soften
    • Add the Italian seasoning, reduce heat to medium low, and stir in the cream
    • Cook on low heat until sauce begins to thicken
    • Add the Parmesan cheese, and serve

    Notes

    To cook 1 pound of pasta, use 3 cups water and a large jar of marinara sauce (32 oz jar) or pasta sauce. You can add a 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes if you want more tomato flavor.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 546kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 32gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 1040mgPotassium: 779mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1009IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 160mgIron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    I hope you enjoy this comforting pasta dish as much as we do. My entire family is crazy about it!

    If you do make this easy dinner, please leave a star rating and/or comment.

    For more easy pasta recipes and easy meals for families to enjoy around the dinner table, sign up for the weekly newsletter and follow along on social media.

    creamy-one-pot-shells and-beef-pasta-30-minute-dinner

    This easy ground beef recipe was originally published in May 2016 and updated for pictures and cooking tips in 2022.

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. rachel riley says

      February 19, 2022 at 11:43 am

      Could I use beef broth in place of water?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 19, 2022 at 1:00 pm

        Yes, beef broth would be great!

    2. Lori says

      May 03, 2021 at 11:39 pm

      Can this recipe be doubled

      Reply
      • Dee says

        May 04, 2021 at 1:15 pm

        Yes! I do this all the time.

    3. Remy says

      March 26, 2021 at 8:10 pm

      Do I drain the beef?5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 26, 2021 at 10:02 pm

        Only if you want to. I usually buy lean beef, so I don't drain it.

    4. Mindy says

      January 02, 2021 at 11:53 pm

      This was delicious! I made it tonight for the first time. My mom enjoyed it as well. I followed the recipe as written except I did half sausage and half hamburger because that is what I had. I will definitely be making this again. Thanks for the great recipe! 😊5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        January 04, 2021 at 1:52 pm

        Thank you so much, Mindy! I'm glad you both liked the shells and beef!

    5. Jamie says

      November 20, 2020 at 10:09 pm

      Hi! Confused about references to marinara sauce, when it's not listed in recipe.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        November 21, 2020 at 2:05 pm

        You can use any pasta sauce. Some people say tomato sauce instead of marinara. I'll make a note of that in the recipe.:)

    6. Mikayla says

      February 24, 2020 at 5:01 pm

      I have made this many times, but I sub the ground beef for Italian sausage. If I am really trying to make dinner fast, I do the noodles separately so I can have the sausage going and the noodles at the same time, then omit the water.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 24, 2020 at 7:36 pm

        Yum -- I make it with sausage sometimes, as well! Love that you found a way to cook it even faster.

    7. Michelle says

      February 10, 2020 at 10:30 am

      I made this last night and my picky toddler even loved it! Thanks - this is now going in our regular rotation. Love having another ground beef meal in my arsenal.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 10, 2020 at 8:10 pm

        I'm so happy this was a hit with your family! Thanks, Michelle!

    8. James says

      February 10, 2020 at 6:38 am

      Love this one. We also use the Instant Pot version as well. Supper easy and a kid favorite too.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 10, 2020 at 7:08 am

        So glad you like both versions, James. Thanks!

    9. Desiree says

      December 06, 2019 at 6:39 pm

      Very yummy! My son loved it! Had to make it dairy free so I used almond milk and some nutritional yeast and it turned out perfect! Thank you for sharing!!!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 09, 2019 at 7:41 am

        Thanks, Desiree. Glad you were able to adapt the recipe for your son! 🙂

    10. Maia K says

      April 23, 2019 at 9:22 pm

      I was sceptical but this recipe is so delicious that it tastes like it takes more work than it does! As a new mom I'm excited to add this recipe as a quick and easy dish to put arsenal. My husband loved it, too! Thanks!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 24, 2019 at 8:29 am

        Thank you so much! It's one of our very favorite IP dinners. 🙂

    11. Lorraine Hitch says

      February 12, 2019 at 7:15 am

      Awesome. Was looking for quick easy recipe for ground beef where I had all ingredients on hand. Who knew it would turn into my new go-to!!! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 12, 2019 at 2:25 pm

        Thanks, Lorraine. This is one of our favorite dinners, too!

    12. Brian says

      September 17, 2018 at 2:47 pm

      Made this for dinner tonight because I needed to use up some heavy cream. I substituted elbow macaroni and a can of rotel. Very good! will definitely make again5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 18, 2018 at 9:31 am

        Awesome! I'm so glad you liked it, Brian. 🙂

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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