Description
Rich pasta dish with tender medium pasta shells tossed in flavorful ground beef tomato sauce enriched with heavy cream and sharp cheddar cheese. Italian herbs and smoked paprika add depth for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
8 ounces medium pasta shells
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 small sweet onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup beef stock
1 (15 oz) can marinara sauce
¾ cup heavy cream
¼ cup sour cream
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1½ cups grated cheddar cheese
Fresh parsley or basil (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente; drain and set aside.
Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon; drain excess fat.
Add onion and cook 2 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.
Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute to lightly brown. Gradually whisk in beef stock, scraping browned bits from pan.
Add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, parsley, oregano, and smoked paprika. Simmer 6–8 minutes until slightly thickened.
Stir in cooked pasta and beef. Mix in heavy cream and warm through 1–2 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper. Stir in sour cream and fold in cheddar until melted. Remove from heat.
Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
Cook pasta al dente to prevent sogginess.
Whisk flour well to avoid lumps for smooth sauce.
Simmer sauce gently to develop flavors.
Add sour cream and cheddar last to prevent curdling.
Use freshly grated cheddar for best melt and taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Pasta
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 730
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 19
- Unsaturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 37
- Cholesterol: 115
Keywords: creamy beef and shells, beef pasta casserole, creamy tomato beef pasta, cheesy ground beef pasta, family pasta dinner