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This week / 30-Minute / No. 14
Creamy Beef and Shells
14THIS WEEK
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30-Minute · Weeknight

Creamy Beef and Shells

The grown-up version of the boxed dinner. Ground beef, a tomato-cream sauce and pasta shells all cook in one pot, finished with cheddar.

Why it's here: A one-pot creamy beef and shells dinner was on Allrecipes' most-saved list for the week ending Oct 13.

Prep5 min
Cook25 min
Total30 min
Serves6

What you'll need

Enameled cast-iron Dutch ovenFor soups, stews and braises
Silicone spatula setFor stirring and flipping

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Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp each paprika, garlic powder and Italian seasoning
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 3 1/2 cups beef broth
  • 12 oz medium pasta shells
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
  • Salt and pepper

Steps

  1. Brown the beef with the onion in a large pot over medium-high, about 7 minutes. Drain most of the fat.
  2. Stir in the garlic, spices and tomato paste for 1 minute.
  3. Add the tomato sauce, broth and shells. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on medium-low, stirring every few minutes, until the pasta is tender, 12 to 14 minutes.
  4. Stir in the cream and cheddar until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.

TipIf it gets too thick, loosen it with a splash of broth or milk.