Creamy Cheesy Ground Beef & Shells
Creamy Cheesy Ground Beef & Shells
Ingredients
For the Beef & Sauce Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, lean
- 1 yellow onion, small, diced
- 3 garlic, cloves, minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 ounce ranch seasoning mix, packet
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
For the Creamy Finish
- 12 ounces small shell pasta, uncooked
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened, cut into cubes
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Add diced yellow onion to the skillet with the browned beef and cook until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Transfer the browned beef mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in beef broth, ranch seasoning mix, dried oregano, black pepper, and salt. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 hours or on LOW for 5 hours. This allows the flavors to meld and the beef to become tender.
⏱️ 150 min
- 5
After the initial cooking time, add the uncooked small shell pasta, cubed cream cheese, and whole milk to the slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to ensure the pasta is submerged and the cream cheese begins to melt.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Cover and continue to cook on HIGH for another 30 to 45 minutes, or until the pasta is tender. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking together or to the bottom of the slow cooker.
⏱️ 45 min
- 7
Stir in 1 cup of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese until it is fully melted and incorporated into the creamy sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the pasta. Cover and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 15 min
- 9
Ladle the creamy cheesy ground beef and shells into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, and serve hot.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Cheesy Ground Beef & Shells
Ingredients
For the Beef & Sauce Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, lean
- 1 yellow onion, small, diced
- 3 garlic, cloves, minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 ounce ranch seasoning mix, packet
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
For the Creamy Finish
- 12 ounces small shell pasta, uncooked
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened, cut into cubes
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Add diced yellow onion to the skillet with the browned beef and cook until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Transfer the browned beef mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in beef broth, ranch seasoning mix, dried oregano, black pepper, and salt. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 hours or on LOW for 5 hours. This allows the flavors to meld and the beef to become tender.
⏱️ 150 min - 5
After the initial cooking time, add the uncooked small shell pasta, cubed cream cheese, and whole milk to the slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to ensure the pasta is submerged and the cream cheese begins to melt.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Cover and continue to cook on HIGH for another 30 to 45 minutes, or until the pasta is tender. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking together or to the bottom of the slow cooker.
⏱️ 45 min - 7
Stir in 1 cup of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese until it is fully melted and incorporated into the creamy sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the pasta. Cover and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 15 min - 9
Ladle the creamy cheesy ground beef and shells into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, and serve hot.
⏱️ 1 min