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Home » Instant Pot Pasta Recipes

Instant Pot Beef and Shells

Published: Sep 21, 2023 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Easy Instant Pot Beef and Shells recipe! This easy, one-pot recipe turns ground beef and pasta into a creamy, cheesy dinner!

A white plate of Instant Pot beef and shells next to a dish of parsley.

Sometimes simple dinners are the best dinners. I am all for the big dinners, but that’s just not everyday life for me.

With young kids, a job, and all of the other craziness of life, I love easy dinners that I can get on the table quickly – like this Instant Pot beef and shells recipe.

This dinner recipe only takes about 30 minutes to make – start to finish, and it’s made entirely in one pot. So, not only is it easy to make, but it’s also easy to clean up.

All of which make this a great weeknight dinner recipe!

How to make beef and shells in the Instant Pot

Here you'll find the step-by-step directions showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe with ingredients is given below.

Browned ground beef in an instant pot inner pot.

Step 1: Press saute. When hot, add the ground beef. Cook, stirring regularly, until browned.

Step 2: Drain and return beef to the inner pot. Add diced onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until they begin to soften.

Uncooked pasta and sauce in an instant pot inner pot.

Step 3: Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper, and cook, stirring the entire time, for 30 seconds. Press cancel.

Step 4: Pour in ½ cup of the broth, and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the inner pot.

Step 5: Add the pasta. Add in the tomato sauce and remaining broth, pushing the pasta into the sauce.

Step 6: Close and lock the lid. Turn the pressure release valve to sealing.

Step 7: Cook. Carefully turn the pressure release valve to venting to release the pressure.

Cooked beef and shells in an instant pot inner pot.

Step 8: Stir in the cream and half of the shredded cheese. Sprinkle the remaining half of the cheese on top of the pasta.

A spoon scooping up beef and shells.

Tips

  • Ground beef: I like to use 90% lean ground beef in this recipe. You can also use ground turkey, if you prefer.
  • Crushed red pepper: The red pepper just adds a bit of flavor. Feel free to increase it or omit it, depending on your tastes.
  • Beef broth: I like to use reduced-sodium beef broth to better control the salt level.
  • Cream: If you like a creamier pasta, feel free to increase the amount of cream.
  • Cheese: You can use a similar type of cheese in place of the cheddar.

Serving suggestions

I serve this pasta with a simple green salad or with fresh veggies for a quick weeknight dinner.

A white plate of Instant Pot beef and shells next to a silver fork.

Storage

Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.

I reheat the pasta by warming it in the microwave.

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If you’ve tried this Instant Pot beef and shells recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

You can follow me on Pinterest or Facebook even more delicious food.

A white plate of Instant Pot beef and shells next to a dish of parsley.

Instant Pot Beef and Shells

Easy Instant Pot Beef and Shells recipe! This easy, one-pot recipe turns ground beef and pasta into a creamy, cheesy dinner!
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes minutes
Time to Pressure: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 445kcal
Author: Kate at Eating in an Instant

Equipment

  • Instant Pot/Electric Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 small yellow onion diced (about a cup)
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 3 ½ cups reduced-sodium beef broth divided
  • 16 ounces uncooked shell pasta
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese divided

Instructions

  • Press sauté.
  • When hot, add the ground beef.
  • Cook, stirring regularly, until browned.
  • Drain and return beef to the inner pot.
  • Add diced onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until they begin to soften.
  • Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper, and cook, stirring the entire time, for 30 seconds.
  • Press CANCEL.
  • Pour in ½ cup of the broth, and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the inner pot.
  • Add the pasta.
  • Add in the crushed tomatoes and remaining broth, pushing the pasta into the sauce. Do not stir.
  • Close and lock the lid.
  • Turn the pressure release valve to sealing.
  • Press manual high pressure and adjust the time to 4 minutes.
  • Carefully turn the pressure release valve to venting to release the pressure.
  • Stir in the cream and half of the shredded cheese.
  • Sprinkle the remaining half of the cheese on top of the pasta.

Notes

  • Ground beef: I like to use 90% lean ground beef in this recipe. You can also use ground turkey, if you prefer.
  • Crushed red pepper: The red pepper just adds a bit of flavor. Feel free to increase it or omit it, depending on your tastes. 
  • Beef broth: I like to use reduced-sodium beef broth to better control the salt level.
  • Cream: If you like a creamier pasta, feel free to increase the amount of cream.
  • Cheese: You can use a similar type of cheese in place of the cheddar. 
  • Nutrition values are estimates. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 775mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 537IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 225mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Leave me a comment below to let me know!

Originally published 1/21.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Adina

    March 08, 2023 at 9:16 pm

    5 stars
    This was so good! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Kate

      March 09, 2023 at 9:31 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  2. Bill

    February 03, 2022 at 9:09 pm

    5 stars
    I like this alot.

    Reply
    • Kate

      February 04, 2022 at 3:08 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Deb P

        January 31, 2023 at 2:07 am

        So question I made this tonight. With the ingredients listed. In the instructions it said add tomato sauce. There is no tomato sauce listed in the ingredients just crushed tomatoes. I ended up getting a burn notice and had to cancel. Meal was finished but still confused should I have used tomato’s or sauce. Would like to know for next try

        Reply
        • Kate

          January 31, 2023 at 3:12 am

          Hi! I'm sorry about that! It wasn't as clear as it could have been. The crushed tomatoes were the tomato sauce. I changed that in the instructions to make it clearer. Did you stir everything together? I also added a note not to stir.

  3. Jessica

    January 29, 2022 at 8:47 pm

    5 stars
    Love this! Keep the recipes coming!

    Reply
    • Kate

      January 29, 2022 at 8:49 pm

      Thank you! =)

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Kate. Dinner can be a struggle, but the easy Instant Pot dinner recipes on this site will get you eating in an instant!

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