# Creamy Beef Pasta

A quick and easy comfort food dish, also known as a much better version of Hamburger Helper, featuring ground beef, pasta shells, and a creamy, cheesy sauce.

- Total time: 20 min
- Cuisine: Italian
- Category: Soup
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 1 whole yellow onion
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pinch salt
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1.25 pounds ground beef
- 1 pinch pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 pound pasta shells
- 5 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
- chives
- olive oil

## Instructions

1. Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat and add olive oil.
2. Add one diced yellow onion, one teaspoon red pepper flakes, one teaspoon Italian seasoning, and a big pinch of salt. Cook until the onions are soft, about 6-8 minutes.
3. Add six minced cloves of garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
4. Add one and a quarter pounds of ground beef, a big pinch of salt, a big pinch of pepper, and one teaspoon of paprika. Break up the beef and brown it.
5. Make a space in the middle of the pot and add 2-3 tablespoons of tomato paste. Cook for a few minutes.
6. Bring all ingredients together.
7. Add three cups of beef broth and one cup of heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a low boil.
8. Add one pound of pasta shells. Mix them in, then lower the heat to a simmer.
9. Cook until the pasta shells are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes (16 minutes seems perfect).
10. Add 5 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese.
11. Taste the dish and add a big pinch of salt and a little bit of pepper if needed. This would also be a good time to toss in some butter.
12. Plate the creamy beef pasta.
13. Garnish with chives.

## Equipment

- Dutch oven

## Tips

- Cook onions until tender (6-8 minutes).
- Cook garlic until you can smell it (less than a minute).
- Make room for tomato paste in the middle of the Dutch oven and cook it for a few minutes.
- When adding pasta shells, lower to a simmer and cook for about 16 minutes until tender.
- Taste and season as you like after adding cheddar cheese.
- Consider adding butter when tasting for seasoning.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18CPKJPsyt/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/79acad09-3696-463e-a279-36ccbdc34577
- Extracted: 2026-01-26

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt