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🍝 Creamy Beef and Shells

Description

Creamy Beef and Shells is a comforting pasta dish made with seasoned ground beef, tender pasta shells, and a luscious tomato-cream sauce. It’s ready in about 30 minutes and loved by both kids and adults!

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🧾 Ingredients

For the Pasta

• 12 oz medium pasta shells
• Salt for pasta water

For the Beef & Sauce

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 Tbsp olive oil (if needed)
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp dried basil (optional)
• Salt & black pepper, to taste
• 1 (15-oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup beef broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or a blend of cheddar + mozzarella)
• Optional: red pepper flakes for heat

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⭐ Instructions

1. Cook the Shells

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Add pasta shells and cook according to package directions until al dente.
3. Drain and set aside.

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2. Cook the Beef

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.
3. Drain excess grease if needed.
4. Add diced onion and cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
5. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
6. Season with Italian seasoning, paprika, dried basil, salt, and pepper.

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3. Build the Sauce

1. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and beef broth.
2. Stir, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5–7 minutes to let flavors blend.

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4. Make It Creamy

1. Reduce heat to low.
2. Stir in heavy cream and shredded cheese until melted and smooth.

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5. Combine

1. Add the cooked pasta shells into the skillet.
2. Stir well so all the shells are coated in the creamy beef sauce.
3. Simmer 2–3 more minutes to thicken.
4. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

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🍽️ Serve

Serve warm, topped with extra cheese or chopped parsley if you like.
Great with garlic bread or a simple salad!

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