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Baked Cheesy Pasta Shells with Creamy Ground Beef Sauce

Close-up of baked Cheesy Pasta Shells with Creamy Beef Sauce topped with melted, browned cheese and parsley.
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A recipe for large pasta shells filled with seasoned ground beef and baked in a rich, creamy cheese sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese, cubed

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain the shells and set them aside.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the tomato sauce and beef broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  6. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, and the cubed cream cheese. Stir constantly until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  7. Spoon the beef mixture into each cooked pasta shell. Arrange the filled shells in the prepared baking dish.
  8. Pour any remaining sauce over the top of the shells.
  9. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
  10. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese topping is melted and lightly golden brown.
  11. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For added flavor, add 1/2 cup of finely chopped mushrooms or bell peppers when you cook the onion.
  • You can substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage for the ground beef.
  • If you prefer a less rich sauce, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://hungryhearld.com/cheesy-pasta-shells-with-creamy-beef-sauce/