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ground beef with pasta shells in a cast iron skillet next to a yellow checkered linen towel with fresh parsley garnished on top
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4.73 from 11 votes

Ground Beef with Pasta Shells

Cheesy ground beef and pasta shells are an indulgent pasta dish for you want that cozy cheesy, carby goodness!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Julie Chiou

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.
    1 pound 85/15 ground beef
    ground beef crumbled into smaller pieces in dutch oven
  • Add the onion, garlic, bell pepper, and seasonings. Stir and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
    1/2 large onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 medium red bell pepper, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
    crumbled ground beef with seasonings and vegetables in a cast iron skillet
  • 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.
    1 1/4 cup tomato sauce, 1 1/4 cup beef broth, 2 cups dried medium shells pasta
    beef broth and dried pasta shells added to the ground beef mixture in the cast iron skillet
  • Remove from heat and add Velveeta and stir to melt and incorporate. Season with salt, to taste.
    4 ounces Velveeta, Kosher salt, Ground black pepper
    a block of velveeta cheese added to the finished pasta dish

Notes

You may need more or less liquid depending on the size of your pasta shells or pasta shape used. I used "medium" pasta shells but "medium" is a relative term and totally dependent on what the grocery store/brand considers "medium". You're looking for a thick sauce covering the pasta, not a loose liquidy sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving (355 grams) | Calories: 543 kcal | Carbohydrates: 50 g | Protein: 36 g | Fat: 21 g | Saturated Fat: 9 g | Trans Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 89 mg | Sodium: 1097 mg | Potassium: 1061 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 9 g

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