This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
There’s nothing easier than making ground beef with pasta shells on busy weeknights. With a simple ingredient list, it makes for a truly effortless weeknight meal — satisfaction guaranteed!
This easy creamy beef with pasta shells is almost like homemade hamburger helper with slight differences but still amazing flavor and cheesiness!
The sauce is creamy and thick and it covers the pasta shells so well. It envelopes everything in this dish and gives it that comforting kick. It’s hearty, beefy, cheesy, and everything you dream of in a cozy pasta dish.
Ingredients for Ground Beef with Pasta Shells
- 85/15 ground beef – I know people tend to shy away from fat but I think 85/15 is the perfect ratio because it’s not too fatty and it’s not too lean. Fat = flavor.
- Large onion
- Garlic
- Red bell pepper
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Smoked paprika
- Tomato sauce – make sure to buy tomato sauce. It is smooth and there are no chunks in it. It can also sometimes be called passata.
- Beef broth
- Medium shells pasta – the pockets in the cooked pasta shells are a great place for the sauce!
- Velveeta – don’t hate. This is the secret ingredient to the sauce and quite frankly, you don’t even use a lot of it. It’s sooo creamy!
How to Make Creamy Beef and Shells Step by Step
- Brown the beef. Heat a large skillet, or similar, over high heat and add a little olive oil. Brown the beef with a wooden spoon or spatula, crumble and break it into smaller pieces. If you would like to drain excess fat, now would be the time. I prefer to keep it.
- Add the vegetables and seasonings. Stir in the onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Sprinkle in the seasonings and stir to incorporate. Cook until tender.
- Add the liquids and pasta. Pour in the tomato sauce, beef stock, and pasta. Stir to make sure everything is incorporated. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook until pasta is cooked through.
- Stir in the velveeta. Once the pasta is cooked through, remove from heat and stir in the velveeta and allow to melt through the pasta dish.
Beef and Shells Variations
- Use different pasta shapes. I used pasta shells in this but elbow macaroni, rotini, or penne would be great substitutes!
- Make it creamier. Adding a splash of heavy cream can give this pasta dish extra creaminess and richness. Of course topping it off with some cheddar cheese would do the trick as well!
- Add some spice. Sprinkling a little crushed red pepper flakes will give this dish a kick if you’re craving something spicy!
FAQs
There is already ground beef but if you prefer to use another type of meat, ground turkey or ground chicken would be great substitutions for the ground beef.
Seasonings! There’s already a good amount in this that I don’t think you’ll have a problem with flavor, but for whatever reason, if you desire more flavor, you could use Italian seasoning or using dried basil or oregano if you don’t have the Italian seasoning. Black pepper, too!
You can use freshly grated cheddar cheese in lieu of velveeta but let me tell you – velveeta creates a creamy sauce that you can’t truly replicate with just cheddar cheese! I would not suggest using parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese in this.
Storage Instructions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator. To reheat, pop back into the microwave and heat until warmed through. You may need to add a bit of liquid to loosen up the sauce a bit.
To freeze: if you know you are going to freeze this and not eat it immediately, cook the pasta to al dente and then allow to cool before storing in Souper Cube trays. Put in freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat from freezer, place frozen cube into a pot on the stovetop and add a little beef broth and cover. Once melted, cook until pasta is cooked through.
Serving Suggestions
For a complete meal, serve ground beef with shells with a side salad or garlic bread!
More Easy Ground Beef Recipes
Ground Beef with Pasta Shells
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) 85/15 ground beef
- ½ large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, cored and diced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 ¼ cup (306 g) tomato sauce
- 1 ¼ cup (296 ml) beef broth
- 2 cups (200 g) dried medium shells pasta
- 4 ounces (113 g) Velveeta, cubed
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, optional
Instructions
- In a dutch oven, or similar, brown ground beef and break into small pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Add the onion, garlic, bell pepper, and seasonings. Stir and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce, beef stock, and pasta shells. Stir to incorporate then bring to a low simmer. Cover, stirring occasionally, cook until pasta is done.
- Remove from heat and add Velveeta and stir to melt and incorporate. Season with salt, to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
Photographs by Meg McKeehan Photography
Made this over the weekend and it was the best. We loved every bite and can’t wait to make it again.
This is for sure going on my meal plan rotation! It is an instant family favorite!
This makes a perfect meal for a busy night. It’s easy and yummy and, best of all, absolutely no fuss!
I needed a quick ground beef recipe that I had all of the ingredients for and this was perfect. Full of flavor and the kids thought it was lick the plate clean, delicious.
I made this last night and it is going to be a permanent favorite! It is quick and easy but most of all my family loved it. Thanks.
By far a family favorite!!!!! Everyone gets so unbelievably excited when it’s on the menu
All the recipes have a comfort feel great for winter