Classic Beef and Shells

Classic Beef and Shells is a delicious and hearty pasta dish similar to the hamburger helper, but creamier and way more flavorful. It is ready in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for a quick dinner for the whole family! Rich, flavorful, and cheesy, even kids will love it! With this recipe, you can have all of this finished and on the table in about 30 minutes! I didn’t use any special tools or expensive ingredients to make it. It is great for a busy weeknight when you want something quick, but very delicious, that feeds at least four people. I made sure that the flavors and textures in this easy meal are to die for, no wonder its one of the most popular recipes on the blog. The shells are perfectly cooked so you can bite into them, and they hold onto a good amount of sauce, ground beef, and flavor. Make sure you try it too!

Ingredients:
8 ounces medium pasta shells
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup beef stock
1 (15oz can) marinara sauce
¾ cup heavy cream
¼ cup sour cream
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1½ cups cheddar cheese, freshly grated

Instructions:
Cook pasta per package instructions in a large pot of boiling salted water and drain well.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, breaking it with a wooden spoon. Drain excess fat and set aside.
In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Whisk in flour until lightly browned, for about 1 minute.
Gradually whisk in beef stock and stir to combine. Add marinara sauce and stir in Italian seasoning, dried parsley, oregano, and paprika.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and slightly thickened, about 6-8 minutes.
Stir in cooked pasta, and add back beef.
Next, stir in heavy cream until heated through, about 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
After that, stir in the sour cream.
Next, fold in the cheddar cheese until melted, about 1-2 minutes.
Serve immediately, garnished with parsley if you’d like.

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