Easy Meat Sauce and Shells
Gourmet Italian Made Simple
Look, I know this isn’t the prettiest picture I have ever taken of my food, but let me assure you that this easy weeknight meal is absolutely delicious. This is my aunt’s Easy Meat Sauce and Shells recipe that she made all the time and we all still crave it as adults.
Most of the ingredients are ones you likely have on hand or should have on hand. What makes this recipe great is that it makes a decent amount plus you still will have some leftovers.
It makes a great meal the next day reheated.
A Family Favorite
Look, if you’re Italian I’m not going to pretend that this is better than your Nonna’s pasta and gravy.
Actually, I will? It’s fun to pretend.
This Easy Meat Sauce and Shells is just as good, if not better, than the meals your Nonna makes. I haven’t met your Nonna, but I still feel confident saying that.
Don’t believe me? Well I guess you’ll just have to make it and see.
If you don’t have a Nonna, however, then this will DEFINITELY be the best meat sauce and shells you’ll ever had.
Again, if you don’t believe me you’ll have to make it and see for yourself! It’s so easy you’ve got nothing to lose from trying to prove me wrong.
And you have a to gain, because, if I haven’t made it clear yet, this is such a delicious dish. Check out the whole recipe right here.
Complete and Printable Recipe
Easy Meat Sauce and Shells
This easy meat sauce is always a family favorite. Simple to make and it tastes even better the next day, so you get two meals in one. Simple ingredients are used that you probably have on hand. A perfect weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes
- 14.5 ounce can of tomato sauce
- 6 ounce can of tomato paste
- 12 ounces of water
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- garlic salt
- pepper
- dried oregano
- onion powder
- grated parmesan
- olive oil for cooking
- 16 ounces of shell pasta
Instructions
- Brown onions and ground beef in a little bit of olive oil. Make sure you are breaking up the meat as you cook it into a fine crumble.
- When your onions are soft, season your pan with the garlic salt, onion powder, black pepper and oregano. Taste it and adjust seasonings.
- Add the two, 14.5 ounce cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, simmer for 10 minutes and taste again and adjust seasonings.
- Add the can of tomato paste plus the 12 ounces of water. Just fill the tomato paste can twice with water.
- Add your brown sugar, stir occasionally and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Boil your shells until they are al dente and then drain them and add them to the sauce. Stir them into the sauce until every shell is coated, simmer the pasta in the sauce for 10 minutes more.
- Turn off heat and let sit for 5 minutes, top with parmesan cheese and serve.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we all do. It goes perfectly with a salad, and some garlic bread. Enjoy!
Looking for more simple Italian classics? Try my Easy Vodka Sauce.