Hearty delicious foods that are easy to eat and easy to love are some of my favorite foods to make. This is why I turn to my cheesy beef pasta skillet on a regular basis. This delicious meal with pasta shells and cheese is similar to Hamburger Helper in many ways, but it’s made by you. The delicious pasta shells deliver a wonderful texture, while the ground beef and tomatoes add a hearty quality and delicious flavor. If you’re looking for a skillet dinner to add to your list of easy meals to make for your household or family, this ground beef pasta dish is it!
One of the other things I love about this dish is that it’s flexible. You can change the seasonings and add different ingredients to make it your own. I like to switch it up by adding more vegetables to the mixture, but you can do what you like to make it a better option for your family.
Another thing that many people love about this meal is how simple it is, with few steps. The pasta shells are lightly browned in the skillet, then the ingredients are combined. I really don’t think you could make it simpler or more rewarding if you tried.
Looking for a delicious meal to make for your family tonight? This recipe can’t be beat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There are a dozen reasons to love this recipe. Here are some of the things that keep drawing me back again and again:
- Hearty: This recipe is hearty and filling – so hearty and filling that the whole family will walk away satisfied.
- Flexible: You can easily serve this meal with a salad and buttered bread, or serve it as a standalone, or choose a vegetable to pair with it.
- Simple: People love making this recipe because it’s so easy to make – and so easy to memorize the steps!
- Everyone loves it: Even if you have some picky eaters in your family, this meal is a crowd pleaser most people will enjoy.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
There are many ways to substitute ingredients in this dish for other things.
- Pasta: Choose a different pasta shape as it suits you. I like the shells because they hold and hide foods like meat on the inside, but you can choose whatever pasta shape you have on hand, or that works for your family.
- Meat: Substitute the beef for another meat if you need, sausage and turkey both work well!
- Seasonings: Choose the seasonings you have at home and want to use.
How to Make It
This easy five-step recipe can be made as soon as you walk in the door. I always make the pasta in advance to speed up the process, but you don’t have to. If you do plan to make the pasta on the day that you make the meal, add in extra time and the extra step at the beginning.
If you’re in a hurry and trying to save even more time on the night the meal is prepared, you can also brown the beef in advance and then warm it up when the time comes. This part is up to you. I will say that if you do as many steps in advance as you can, you could easily prepare this meal in fifteen minutes for your family.
Tips for Success
- Drain grease thoroughly: The grease in this meal doesn’t serve you and will make the pasta seem oily. Drain the grease thoroughly before adding the other ingredients.
- Make this in advance: This is a meal that’s easy to make in advance. When you’re ready to eat, just pull it out of the fridge and warm it up!
- Substitute any pasta you’d like: The shape of this pasta doesn’t make a lot of difference. Substitute any pasta you’d like to make this dish your own.
Storage & Reheating
If you’re ready to store your meal, cool it to room temperature before sealing it in an airtight container and placing it in the fridge. Store the shells for up to four days, then throw away anything that’s still uneaten.
You can reheat this dish like a casserole. Place it in an oven-safe dish, cover with aluminum foil, then preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. This dish can take about 10 to 15 minutes to heat up, or more depending on how much is leftover and how deep the dish is. Alternatively, you can also heat this dish in the microwave. Use a low power to avoid burning some sides of the dish while other parts remain cool.
If you want to keep this dish for a while, cool it to room temperature, then place it in a freezer. Store this dish in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw 24 hours in advance of eating.
Serving Suggestions
My favorite way to serve ground beef pasta is with salad and dinner rolls. This watercress salad is a great pairing with this entree because it’s light and easy to eat.
My family also enjoys eating this pasta dish with a dollop of sour cream on top – it adds a creamy, smooth quality that you’ll love.
If you’re not interested in making a salad to go with this dish, try cooking a side vegetable.
FAQs
What size shells should I use?
Choose whatever shell size you like. I use small shells for this dish, but you can use large shells if that’s what you have on hand.
Can I make this in advance?
Yes, you can make this dish fully in advance. To reheat it, bake it in a casserole dish.
How can I make this dish saucier and creamier?
Consider adding some tomato sauce and heavy cream to this dish to make it saucier and creamier. Delicious!
Notes
Growing up, I asked for a dish like this again and again – probably, your kids will too. This is one of my favorite dishes to make on cold winter nights, but it works for warm weather too.
Cheesy Beef Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb Medium Pasta Shells
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef 90/10
- 1 small Yellow Onion finely diced
- 3 cloves Garlic minced (replaces garlic powder for a punchier flavor)
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika adds a subtle wood-fired depth
- ½ tsp Dried Oregano
- 2 cups Beef Bone Broth replaces water for a richer sauce
- 1 can 15 oz Tomato Sauce
- 1 ½ cups Smoked Cheddar shredded (replaces standard cheddar for a gourmet twist)
- ½ cup Heavy Cream adds a velvety finish
- Fresh Parsley chopped for garnish
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven or deep skillet, brown the ground beef with the diced onions. Once the beef is cooked through, drain any excess grease. Add the minced garlic, smoked paprika, and oregano, sautéing for 60 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato sauce and the beef bone broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Add the dry pasta shells directly into the bubbling sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and simmer for 10–12 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure the shells don’t stick to the bottom. Cooking the pasta in the sauce allows the starch to naturally thicken the meal.
- Once the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, turn the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and the shredded smoked cheddar.
- Stir continuously until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is glossy and thick. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash more broth.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and a crack of black pepper.
