Description
This Creamy Beef and Shells recipe combines tender pasta shells with savory ground beef and a rich, cheesy sauce for a comforting and delicious meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta
- 3 cups medium pasta shells, uncooked
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 large onion, diced
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Sauce
- 3 tbsp Land O Lakes® Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta shells: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta shells according to package instructions until tender. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Brown beef and vegetables: In a large pan over medium heat, add the ground beef, diced red bell pepper, and diced onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until the beef is fully cooked and crumbled. Drain excess fat and return the pan to the heat.
- Add seasonings and butter: Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper until fragrant. Add the butter and allow it to melt completely.
- Create roux and thicken: Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute until the flour is absorbed and the mixture is slightly golden.
- Add beef broth and develop sauce: Gradually stir in the beef broth, continuing to mix until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Incorporate sour cream and cheese: Stir in the sour cream and mild cheddar cheese until the sauce is smooth and well combined.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta shells into the pan and stir gently to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy beef mixture.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped parsley over the top for a fresh finish and serve hot.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce fat content.
- To make it gluten-free, replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Adding more vegetables like mushrooms or spinach can increase the nutritional value.
- Ensure to drain excess fat after cooking beef to avoid a greasy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: thirty-five g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
