Description
Hearty ground beef shells skillet delivers comfort and flavor in one pan. Simple ingredients create a delicious meal families will devour and savor with ease.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 16 oz box of medium-sized pasta shells
- 2 × 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes (inclusive of juices)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2–3 cups fresh baby spinach (thoroughly washed)
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¾ cup water reserved from cooked pasta
- 3 tbsps tomato paste
- 2 tbsps olive oil (preferably extra virgin)
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional)
- ½ medium-sized onion (finely diced)
- 3 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 2 tsps Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt (adjust according to preference)
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- ¼ – ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Add pasta shells and cook for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender. Drain pasta, reserving ¾ cup cooking water, and gently coat with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Sauté diced onions until translucent, approximately 2 minutes. Add ground beef and cook thoroughly, breaking meat into small crumbles, about 7-8 minutes. Eliminate excess grease from the pan.
- Introduce baby spinach, diced tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, and minced garlic into the skillet. Stir ingredients and season with appropriate spices. Simmer mixture for 3-4 minutes until spinach wilts and flavors meld together.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour reserved pasta water and heavy cream into the skillet. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and stir continuously until sauce thickens and cheese melts completely, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Fold cooked pasta shells into the beef mixture, ensuring each shell is evenly coated with sauce. Gently toss to distribute ingredients uniformly.
- Transfer to serving dishes and garnish with additional Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh basil, or parsley. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Cook shells just until al dente to prevent mushiness and maintain a pleasant texture that holds the sauce beautifully.
- Tossing cooked pasta with olive oil prevents sticking and helps create a more cohesive final dish, ensuring each shell gets evenly coated with the savory beef mixture.
- Draining excess beef fat ensures a lighter, less greasy skillet meal while concentrating the rich, meaty flavors.
- Replace heavy cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast or dairy-free cheese alternatives to make the recipe completely lactose-free and vegan-friendly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 391 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg