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Cheesy Beef and Shells Casserole

Cheesy Beef and Shells Casserole


  • Author: lisa
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 68 servings 1x

Description

Cheesy Beef and Shells Casserole is a simple, family-friendly dinner recipe made with pasta, seasoned beef, tomato soup, and melted cheese. It’s cozy, filling, and perfect for busy weeknights or easy weekend dinners.


Ingredients

Scale

1 lb medium pasta shells

1 lb ground beef

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

½ medium sweet onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp Italian seasoning

20 oz tomato soup (2 cans)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

½ cup beef broth


Instructions

Follow these steps for a delicious, melty casserole:

  1. Preheat and prepare dish
    Preheat your oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Grease a 9×13​‑inch baking dish with butter, oil, or nonstick spray.
  2. Cook the pasta
    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. Brown the beef mixture
    While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium​‑high heat. Add the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble the beef until no longer pink and the onion softens.
  4. Combine with sauce and pasta
    To the skillet, add the tomato soup, beef broth, Italian seasoning, and half of the shredded cheese (reserve the rest). Stir to combine. Then gently fold in the cooked pasta shells. Continue cooking and stirring for 2–3 minutes over medium heat so everything melds.
  5. Transfer to baking dish
    Pour the beef​‑pasta mixture into your prepared 9×13 dish, smoothing it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheese over the top in an even layer.
  6. Bake covered, then uncovered
    Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 °F. Then remove the foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and edges are slightly golden.
  7. Rest and serve
    Allow the casserole to rest for 5–10 minutes before serving — this gives it time to firm up, making it easier to slice and serve neatly.

Notes

Use freshly shredded cheese for best melt.

Slightly undercook pasta to prevent mushiness.

You can make it ahead and refrigerate before baking.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Dinner

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 portion
  • Calories: ~480
  • Carbohydrates: ~33g
  • Protein: ~27g