Pasta Shells with Ground Beef: A Tasty and Family-Friendly Italian Delight 🍝🥩🍅

If you’re looking for a delicious and family-friendly Italian-inspired dish, look no further than this Pasta Shells with Ground Beef recipe! 🍝🥩🍅 This flavorful and satisfying one-pot wonder combines tender pasta shells with savory ground beef, creating a flavorful and comforting one-pot wonder that will please everyone at the table.

Ingredients:

  • 12 oz pasta shells (conchiglie) or any short pasta of your choice 🍝
  • 1 lb ground beef 🥩
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil 🫒
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped 🧅
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes 🍅
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste 🍅
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano 🌿
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil 🌿
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for a hint of spice) 🌶️
  • Salt and pepper to taste 🧂
  • Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving 🧀
  • Fresh basil leaves, for garnish 🌿

Instructions:

  1. Cook the Pasta Shells: 🍝
    • Pasta shells should be cooked as directed on the package until they are al dente. Pasta should be drained and set aside.
  2. Brown the Ground Beef: 🥩
    • Melt the olive oil in a sizable skillet or pan over medium-high heat. When the ground beef is added, cook it until it is thoroughly cooked and nicely browned, breaking it up as it cooks with a spoon.
  3. Add Onions and Garlic: 🧅🧄
    • Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the ground beef. Sauté the onion until it becomes soft and translucent.
    • Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until it becomes fragrant.
  4. Create the Tomato Sauce: 🍅
    • The ground beef and chopped onion should be added to the skillet. The onion should be sautéed until soft and translucent.
    • To the sauce, add the dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). To taste, add salt and pepper to the food.
  5. Simmer the Sauce: 🍅
    • The sauce should simmer for 10 to 15 minutes on low heat to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to slightly thicken.
  6. Combine the Pasta and Sauce: 🍝🥫
    • To the skillet of beef and tomato sauce, add the cooked pasta shells. Mix everything together until the sauce is evenly distributed over the pasta.
  7. Serve and Garnish: 🍝🌿🧀
    • Serve the Pasta Shells with Ground Beef in individual bowls.
    • For a delicious finishing touch, generously sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over each serving and add fresh basil leaves.

👉 Pasta Shells with Ground Beef is a crowd-pleasing and satisfying meal that brings together the classic combination of pasta and beef in a delicious tomato sauce. A comforting and easy-to-make Italian-inspired dish that will please everyone at the table! 😍🍝🥩🍅