Welcome to the Easy Dish!
Creamy Beef & Shells
This Creamy Beef and Shells recipe is an easy homemade Hamburger Helper-style dinner with pasta shells, ground beef, tomato sauce, cream, and cheese. Ready in 30 minutes!
6/19/20261 min read
Prep Time-10 minutes; Cook Time-20 minutes; Total Time-30 minutes; Servings-4 to 6 servings
Ingredients:
8 ounces medium pasta shells
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups marinara sauce or tomato sauce
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon paprika, optional
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Fresh parsley, optional for garnish
Instructions:
Cook the pasta shells according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and diced onion over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion is softened.
Drain any excess grease if needed.
Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Stir in the marinara sauce, beef broth, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Simmer for 5 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream or half-and-half.
Add the cooked pasta shells and stir to coat.
Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
Garnish with parsley if desired and serve warm.
Recipe Notes
For a creamier sauce, add an extra splash of cream or beef broth before serving.
If you prefer a little more flavor, use marinara sauce instead of plain tomato sauce. Marinara adds more seasoning, making the dish taste richer.
For a lighter option, you can use ground turkey instead of ground beef and half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
Easy Add-Ins
You can make this Creamy Beef and Shells even heartier by adding:
Frozen peas
Chopped spinach
Diced bell peppers
Mushrooms
Corn
Broccoli florets
Extra shredded cheese
The Easy Dish
Quick and easy meal solutions for busy lives.
recipes@theeasydish.blog
© 2025. All rights reserved.