Creamy Beef & Shell Pasta
⏱ Time
30 minutes total
🍽 Servings
4 servings
🛒 Ingredients
12 oz medium shell pasta
1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
1 tbsp olive oil (if needed)
1 small onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt, or to taste
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Creamy Sauce
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1½ cups whole milk (or half-and-half)
½ cup heavy cream
1 cup beef broth
1 cup freshly grated cheddar cheese
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Optional Add-Ins
½ cup mushrooms, sliced
1 cup spinach
¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
Fresh parsley for garnish
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook shell pasta until al dente.
Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
2️⃣ Brown the Beef
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add ground beef and cook until browned.
Drain excess fat if needed.
Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes until soft.
Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
3️⃣ Season
Add salt, pepper, paprika, Italian seasoning, onion powder, and red pepper flakes.
Stir well and lower heat to medium.
4️⃣ Make the Creamy Sauce
Push beef to the side of the skillet.
Melt butter in the empty space.
Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in milk, cream, and beef broth.
Simmer 3–5 minutes until thick and smooth.
5️⃣ Add the Cheese
Reduce heat to low.
Stir in cheddar and Parmesan until melted and velvety.
6️⃣ Combine
Add cooked pasta to the sauce.
Toss gently to coat.
Add reserved pasta water as needed for perfect consistency.
7️⃣ Finish & Serve
Stir in spinach or mushrooms if using.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan.
🌟 Pro Tips
Freshly grated cheese melts smoother
Keep heat low after adding cheese to prevent graininess
Medium shells trap the sauce beautifully
🧀 Variations
Extra cheesy: Add ½ cup mozzarella
Spicy: Add Cajun seasoning or more red pepper flakes
Garlic-lover’s: Add 1 extra clove garlic
Lighter: Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream
If you want, I can also make:
🍄 Creamy beef mushroom pasta
🌶 Cheesy Cajun beef pasta
🧄 Garlic Parmesan beef shells
🥘 One-pot version.
