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!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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
Creamy Shells and Beef
Equipment
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
Video
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
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.
This easy ground beef recipe was originally published in May 2016 and updated for pictures and cooking tips in 2022.
Shannon says
Trying this tonight! If I follow the directions for a pound of pasta, should I double the heavy cream as well? Thanks so much! I’ve loved all of your recipes so far.
Dee says
I usually add an extra half cup to 1 cup of cream. I usually eyeball it, aiming for a light orange color sauce. 🙂 So glad you are enjoying my recipes -- Thanks!
Derek says
This is our go to kid friendly quick dinner in one pot meal! Everybody loves it!
Emily says
Thanks for sharing this recipe...looks amazing. I have a quick, possibly stupid question: when you say "Italian seasoning," do you mean the spice blend that you buy with the spice jars at the market or do you mean those mixes that they sell that turn into pasta sauce when you add water (like Llawry's)?
Dee says
You want Italian seasoning that comes in a jar -- just to add a little extra flavor to the pasta sauce. 🙂
Monet Dufala says
So easy and delicious! Thank you (:
Sandra says
Made this again tonight it was delicious. ❤️
Sandra says
Made this tonight it was delicious.. ❤️
rachel riley says
Could I use beef broth in place of water?
Dee says
Yes, beef broth would be great!
Lori says
Can this recipe be doubled
Dee says
Yes! I do this all the time.
Remy says
Do I drain the beef?
Dee says
Only if you want to. I usually buy lean beef, so I don't drain it.
Mindy says
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! 😊
Dee says
Thank you so much, Mindy! I'm glad you both liked the shells and beef!
Jamie says
Hi! Confused about references to marinara sauce, when it's not listed in recipe.
Dee says
You can use any pasta sauce. Some people say tomato sauce instead of marinara. I'll make a note of that in the recipe.:)
Mikayla says
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.
Dee says
Yum -- I make it with sausage sometimes, as well! Love that you found a way to cook it even faster.
Michelle says
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.
Dee says
I'm so happy this was a hit with your family! Thanks, Michelle!
James says
Love this one. We also use the Instant Pot version as well. Supper easy and a kid favorite too.
Dee says
So glad you like both versions, James. Thanks!
Desiree says
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!!!
Dee says
Thanks, Desiree. Glad you were able to adapt the recipe for your son! 🙂
Maia K says
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!
Dee says
Thank you so much! It's one of our very favorite IP dinners. 🙂
Lorraine Hitch says
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!
Dee says
Thanks, Lorraine. This is one of our favorite dinners, too!
Brian says
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 again
Dee says
Awesome! I'm so glad you liked it, Brian. 🙂