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I recently made a batch of Creamy Beef and Shells and was told “I’d eat this again” and “I could lick the bowl” in the same sitting so I’ll take that as a win! If you’ve never had Creamy Beef and Shells, it’s essentially a twist on classic macaroni and cheese. It has lots of flavor and is a very hearty, comfort food, that is perfect for picky eaters because it will satisfy any taste buds. There really isn’t a lot to this dish and you probably have most of the ingredients on hand already so it’s a great pantry meal.
The recipe can be found here.
Start by heating 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet or deep pot over medium heat. Add the beef and cook until completely cooked through, crumbling as it cooks, about 6-7 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, and onion powder and stir to combine. I prefer to use a large non-stick pot because you will be cooking the noodles in the same vessel you cook the meat so you want it to be large enough to fit everything.
Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, and uncooked pasta shells. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil then cover and reduce the heat to simmer until the shells are cooked through, about 10 minutes. Make sure to stir occasionally so the noodles don’t stick to the bottom. You can also sample the shells to ensure they are cooked to your liking. I like to do this so the shells don’t get too mushy.
I also use this time to shred my cheese. It’s fine to use pre-shredded. I like to buy bricks of cheese and shred those because I think they taste better. It’s fresh and has a stronger taste, in my opinion.
Now you are ready to turn off the heat. Add the shredded cheese and whipping cream and stir to combine. You want the cheese to be completely melted and ooey gooey.
When ready to serve, scoop into bowls, garnish with fresh chopped parsley (optional), and enjoy!
The recipe can be found here.
This dish has really good texture and is packed with tender noodles. You can really taste the cheese in each bite and the meat is perfectly seasoned. I think leftovers are just as good the next day because the noodles absorb some of the flavor overnight and melt in your mouth. It’s family friendly (great for picky eaters) and memorable (everyone will want to eat it again).
I haven’t tried this (yet) but I bet you could substitute the beef broth with chicken or veggie broth and use ground turkey or ground chicken in place of the ground beef to have another variation of the recipe.
Happy Cooking!
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