Beefy Shell Pasta (Printable Version)
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 -
8 ounces medium shell pasta
→ Meat
02 -
1 pound ground beef
→ Seasonings and Spices
03 -
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
04 -
1 teaspoon dried parsley
05 -
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
06 -
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 -
Kosher salt as needed
08 -
Fresh black pepper as needed
→ Vegetables and Aromatics
09 -
1 small sweet onion, chopped
10 -
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
→ Sauce Ingredients
11 -
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
12 -
1 cup beef stock
13 -
1 (15 ounce) can marinara sauce
14 -
3/4 cup heavy cream
15 -
1/4 cup sour cream
→ Cheese
16 -
1 1/2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
→ Oil
17 -
1 tablespoon olive oil
# How to Make It:
01 -
Boil pasta in plenty of salted water following pack directions until tender, then drain thoroughly.
02 -
Pour olive oil into a big skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and break it apart while cooking until no pink shows, around 3-5 minutes. Pour off extra fat and set aside.
03 -
Using the same pan, throw in chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes, moving often. Toss in garlic and stir until you can smell it, about 1 minute.
04 -
Mix in flour and stir until it turns slightly brown, about 1 minute. Slowly pour in beef stock while stirring. Add marinara sauce and mix in Italian seasoning, dried parsley, oregano, and paprika.
05 -
Let the mix bubble up, then turn down the heat and let it cook gently, stirring now and then until it gets thicker, about 6-8 minutes.
06 -
Mix in your cooked pasta, then add the browned beef back in.
07 -
Stir in the heavy cream and warm it through for about 1-2 minutes. Try it and add salt and pepper if needed.
08 -
Mix in the sour cream, then gently fold in cheddar cheese until it melts away, taking about 1-2 minutes.
09 -
Dish it up right away, with some parsley on top if you want.
# Additional Tips:
01 -
Cook your pasta just until it's firm to bite so it won't get mushy when mixed with the sauce.
02 -
Pour off most beef fat but keep a spoonful or two in the pan for extra flavor.
03 -
If you want more sauce, just pour in some extra marinara.
04 -
You can toss in bell peppers, zucchini, or carrots with the onions and garlic for more veggies.