🧾 Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta shells
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (optional, for richness)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- Optional: red pepper flakes
- Garnish: grated Parmesan, fresh basil
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Cook pasta
- Boil pasta shells in salted water until al dente.
- Drain and set aside.
2️⃣ Brown beef
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
3️⃣ Build the sauce
- Add onion and garlic; sauté 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 10–15 minutes.
4️⃣ Combine
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce.
- Toss to coat evenly and heat through.
5️⃣ Serve
- Garnish with Parmesan and basil.
🥗 Nutrition Facts (Per Serving – Approx.)
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Protein: 28 g
- Fat: 22 g
- Total Carbs: 52 g
- Fiber: 5 g
💡 Tips & Variations
- Use whole-wheat or high-protein pasta
- Add mushrooms or bell peppers for extra veggies
- Make it cheesy with mozzarella on top
- Low-carb version: use zucchini or chickpea pasta
