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30-Minute Creamy Ground Beef and Shells Pasta

A close-up shot of creamy beef pasta made with shell-shaped pasta, topped with ground beef, cheese, and parsley.
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Make this easy ground beef pasta for a quick weeknight dinner. This stovetop creamy beef pasta delivers rich, comforting flavor in under 30 minutes, perfect for family friendly meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound shell pasta (or rotini/rigatoni)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess grease.
  2. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Pour in the diced tomatoes (with their juice) and the beef broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  4. Add the shell pasta to the skillet. Stir well to combine. Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
  5. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and the cubed cream cheese until the cream cheese melts and the sauce becomes smooth and velvety.
  6. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the shredded Parmesan cheese until fully incorporated, creating a rich creamy sauce.
  7. Serve immediately. Garnish your savory ground beef pasta with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For a high protein beef pasta, you can use lean ground sirloin.
  • If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of milk or extra broth until you reach your desired consistency.
  • This recipe works well as a one pan beef pasta, minimizing cleanup.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingzenith.com/creamy-beef-pasta-recipe-30-minute/