Description
Creamy beef shells casserole brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Hearty pasta shells nestled with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese create a satisfying meal perfect for hungry families seeking delicious homecooked warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
- 2 cups (200g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (100g) shredded mozzarella cheese
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 12 ounces (340g) medium pasta shells
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup (120ml) beef broth
- ½ cup (120g) sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the culinary workspace by heating the oven to 375F (190C) and lightly coating a 9×13-inch baking vessel with a thin layer of cooking spray.
- Submerge pasta shells in rapidly boiling water, cooking until they reach a tender yet firm consistency. Carefully drain and reserve for subsequent steps.
- Select a spacious skillet and activate medium-high thermal settings. Introduce ground beef and fragmented onion, continuously stirring and breaking meat into delicate crumbles until brownish hues develop, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Infuse the sizzling mixture with minced garlic, allowing aromatics to permeate for an additional 1-2 minutes. Eliminate excess lipid accumulation through strategic draining.
- Construct a robust sauce by incorporating diced tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup, savory beef broth, tangy sour cream, herbaceous Italian seasoning, warm paprika, nuanced salt, and cracked pepper. Allow ingredients to harmonize through gentle simmering for 5-7 minutes.
- Tenderly fold cooked pasta shells into the rich beef concoction, ensuring each morsel becomes thoroughly embraced by the flavorful sauce.
- Elegantly transfer the unified mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating an even landscape of comfort.
- Cascade shredded cheddar and mozzarella across the surface, creating a molten cheese blanket.
- Slide the assembled casserole into the preheated oven, transforming ingredients through 20-25 minutes of radiant heat until cheese achieves a gloriously melted, slightly golden complexion.
- Conclude by adorning with freshly chopped parsley, then serve immediately while temperature and flavors remain at peak deliciousness.
Notes
- Boost protein content by adding extra lean ground beef or swapping with ground turkey for a healthier twist.
- Reduce dairy by using low-fat cheese and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a lighter version.
- Create a gluten-free option by substituting regular pasta shells with gluten-free pasta shells or zucchini noodles.
- Enhance vegetable intake by mixing in chopped spinach, bell peppers, or mushrooms during the beef cooking stage for added nutrition and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 487
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 830mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg