Beef and Shells Pasta Bake with Marinara and Mozzarella Recipe
A hearty and creamy beef and pasta shells dish featuring a savory blend of ground beef, marinara sauce, and a creamy sour cream cheese sauce, perfect for a comforting family meal in just 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces pasta shells
Beef Mixture
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (lean)
- ¾ cup sweet onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Garnish
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta shells in a large pot of salted boiling water following package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Brown beef and onions: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and diced onion, cooking until the beef is browned with no pink remaining and the onion is softened.
- Drain fat: Drain excess fat from the beef mixture if desired. Set the beef mixture aside.
- Sauté garlic and seasonings: Return the skillet to the heat and add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add flour: Whisk in the flour to the pan, stirring to cook out any raw flour taste.
- Add broth: Slowly whisk in beef broth and stir well to combine.
- Incorporate marinara: Pour in the marinara sauce and stir.
- Simmer sauce: Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Stir occasionally for 5 to 7 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine pasta and beef: Stir the cooked pasta and beef/onion mixture into the sauce until evenly combined.
- Add sour cream: Stir in sour cream to create a creamy sauce consistency.
- Fold in cheese: Add shredded mozzarella cheese and stir until melted throughout the mixture.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve the warm beef and shells mixture.
- Garnish: Top with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- For leaner meat, use extra-lean ground beef or substitute with ground turkey.
- Drain excess fat to reduce calories and grease in the dish.
- Ensure pasta is cooked al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy when mixed with sauce.
- Stir sauce constantly while simmering to avoid burning or sticking to the pan.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor instead of pre-minced varieties.
- Optional: sprinkle additional mozzarella cheese on top before serving for extra cheesiness.
Keywords: beef shells, creamy pasta, ground beef recipe, easy dinner, Italian seasoning, comfort food
