The Kitchn: You should make creamy beef and shells for dinner ASAP
A one-pot dinner makes weeknights a breeze, but a one-pot dinner that makes creamy, cheesy, beefy pasta? Well that's just pure joy. If you grew up loving Hamburger Helper, you're going to love this quick from-scratch version of cheesy beef and shells.
If you've ever made a one-pot pasta, you know that cooking the pasta directly in the sauce is a shortcut to creaminess, because as it cooks the pasta releases starch that thickens the cooking liquid. In this beefy version, we're upping the creaminess factor by finishing the dish with a bit of cream. You can use half-and-half in a pinch, but we prefer heavy cream -- it has more fat and doesn't curdle in the acidic tomato sauce (expect a slightly grainy sauce with half-and-half).
As for the cheese, sharp white cheddar is our favorite -- but colby jack and mild cheddar also work well. Whatever you do, don't skimp!
Easy, Creamy Beef and Shells
Serves 4 to 6
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
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