Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces medium pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 medium white onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef stock
- 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup half-and-half
- 2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional)
- chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Boil salted water in a large pot. Cook pasta for 8 minutes until just under al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a pot. Brown ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Transfer cooked beef to a bowl.
- Add onions to the pot and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and Italian seasoning.
- Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir. Slowly whisk in beef broth, then tomato sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper. Simmer sauce for 8-10 minutes until thickened.
- Add beef, pasta shells, and half-and-half to the sauce. Mix well.
- Stir in cheese until melted. Serve garnished with parsley and Parmesan.
Notes
- Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Use any short pasta if shells aren’t available.
- Replace half-and-half with milk or dairy-free alternatives for a lighter version.
- Tomato sauce can be swapped with crushed tomatoes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg