Description
A hearty and comforting dish featuring tender pasta shells in a rich, creamy tomato-beef sauce with savory garlic and Italian herbs, finished with melted extra-sharp cheddar cheese.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces medium pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 medium sweet onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 6 ounces shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 1/2 cups)
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain well and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess fat and set aside.
- Add diced onion to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Sprinkle flour over the onion and garlic mixture, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in beef stock and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 6-8 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked pasta, browned beef, and heavy cream until heated through, about 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add shredded cheddar cheese to the skillet, stirring until melted and fully incorporated into the sauce, about 2 minutes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley or grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting and flavor.
- For extra creaminess, add more heavy cream as desired.
- This dish can be made ahead and reheated—add a splash of milk when reheating to restore creaminess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
