Instant Pot Creamy Shells and Beef

Instant Pot Creamy Shells and Beef is pure comfort food. This easy Instant Pot dinner recipe is so creamy and cheesy. Pasta shells and ground beef are cooked in a tomato sauce and then Parmesan cheese, cream, and cream cheese get mixed in. Instant Pot Creamy Shells and Beef is a little like homemade Hamburger Helper, only much, much better.

Made from simple ingredients, it is perfect for a busy weeknight meal and is sure to be a family favorite.

How To Make

(More detailed instructions and video in recipe card below.)

1. To make Instant Pot Creamy Shells and Beef, first use the sauté mode to cook a chopped onion until getting soft.
   
2. Then add ground beef.
   
3. When ground beef is no longer pink, add your flavors- dried Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes plus a tablespoon of tomato paste.
   
4. Pour the uncooked pasta shells on top.
   
5. Pour a jar of spaghetti sauce and 3 cups of water over the shells. Press the shells down into the liquid, but do not stir.
   
6. Pressure cook on high for 5 minutes.
7. After pressure cooking, do a manual release. Stir in 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, 1 cup of heavy cream, and 2 ounces of softened cream cheese.
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   The pasta soaks up so much flavor cooking this way rather than just being boiled in water and then mixed into sauce.

   This Instant Pot recipe is so easy and so delicious. Your family will be fighting over the leftovers.

   

   ★★★★★
   What readers are saying

   This quickly became a family favorite. The kids could probably eat it every day and be happy. Leftovers are good for lunch the next day. And it’s very easy to improvise if I’m out of an ingredient or 2.

   Variations and Substitutions

   • Make is spicier. Double the amount of crushed red pepper flakes.
   • Use ground turkey or ground Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
   • Mix in 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
   • To make it vegetarian, use Impossible Beef.

   

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   More Instant Pot Recipes

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   • Instant Pot Crack Chicken
   • Instant Pot Swiss Chicken
   • Instant Pot Caesar Chicken
   • Instant Pot 3-Packet Pot Roast
   • Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
   • Instant Pot Jambalaya

   Originally posted June 6, 2018.

   Recipe adapted from Meatloaf and Melodrama

   

   Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.