Pasta Shells & Ground Beef

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An amazing surprise for the fans of Italian cuisine with a limited carb budget is this keto Pasta Shells & Ground Beef. The recipe is so satisfying & delicious. It features the low-carb shells of pasta, seasoned & aromatic cooked beef(ground) in the delicious tomato sauce. All of this is topped with the grated combo of mozzarella & parmesan cheese. This Pasta Shells & Ground Beef is a complete package of taste & nutrition without being carb-loaded. You can refrigerate/freeze it in a ready-to-bake state.

Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS

STATISTICAL OVERVIEW:

  • Diet: protein-rich, low-carb, gluten-free, and keto
  • Course: Dinner/main
  • Cuisine: Italian-inspired/American
  • Time for prep: Fifteen mins
  • Cooking time: Twenty-five mins
  • Working time(total): Forty(40) minutes
  • Size/serving: 1.25 cups
  • Total yield: Six servings
  • Level of difficulty: Easy-normal
  • Mode of cooking: Stovetop + Oven

TOOLS:

  • A spoon(wooden)/spatula
  • Saute pan/skillet(big)
  • Cups & spoons to measure
  • A pot of normal size (for boiling/prepping of the pasta shells)
  • Strainer
  • Baking dish
  • Bowl for mixing

INGREDIENTS:

KETO PASTA SHELLS:

  • The keto version of pasta shells, 8 ounces

FILLING OF BEEF:

  • Minced garlic, 2 cloves
  • A pound of beef
  • To taste of salt & pepper
  • 1 tbsp. of oil of olives/avocado
  • Parsley/basil
  • 0.5 onion
  • A quarter cup of Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup of tomato sauce
  • Half a cup of mozzarella cheese
  • 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.

INGREDIENT NOTES:

SAUCE OF TOMATO:

  • Read the label with focus while buying the tomato sauce of tomatoes which must be low in carbs. You may also go for the homemade version of the marinara sauce or crushed tomatoes, along with Italian herbs.

KETO PASTA SHELLS:

  • There are a lot of brands you can consider that offer a keto version of pasta, too, like ImPASTA shells, Great Low Carb Bread Co. pasta, Palmini shells, etc. Other than the commercial one, you may also go for the natural & healthy homemade options like eggplant sheets, zucchini ribbons, keto crepes, or homemade keto pasta.

ONION & GARLIC:

  • They are required to add that classic aroma to your dish. You may go for the powdered onion & garlic for the quick work in place of the fresh ones.

BEEF:

  • Ground beef has 85 percent lean meat along with 15% fat, which will work best for this recipe. You may go for the ground version of pork, chicken, or
  • Turkey for a much leaner option.

CHEESE:

  • Use either the combo of mozzarella & parmesan cheese or go for any one of them. They will have you have the rich experience & help in combining everything well.

Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Cook the pasta shells(keto) according to the package’s directions.
  2. If you are using any natural alternative, like zucchini, eggplant, or hearts of palm, you need to properly dry them to avoid sogginess.
  3. Now, place the skillet over a regular flame and add the oil to it.
  4. Add the onion(chopped) to that heated oil & cook it for ~three mins.
  5. Next, include the garlic(minced) & cook it till it becomes fragrant.
  6. After a minute of adding garlic, you may include the ground beef.
  7. Use a spatula to continue mixing & breaking it till it changes its color.
  8. Then leave it to get browned fully & remove the excess fat if needed.
  9. At this point, include the sauce of tomatoes, powdered pepper, Italian seasoning, & salt.
  10. Mix to incorporate properly & cook it for ~five mins to make the sauce thick.

USING THE STUFFABLE SHELLS:

  1. Fill each boiled pasta shell with cooked beef mixture & place them in the baking dish(greased) one by one.

WITH THE PALMINI OR ZUCCHINI:

  1. Mix the palmini/zucchini ribbons with the mixture of beef.
  2. Pour the entire mixture into the greased casserole dish.
  3. Then cover the baking dish with an even layer of mozzarella & parmesan cheese(grated).
  4. Now, place the dish(baking/casserole) in the oven for ~ twelve mins at 375 degrees F.
  5. As you see, the bubbly & melted cheese, you may remove the dish from the oven.
  6. Garnish with parsley & basil & serve it warm.

TIPS:

  • We advise you not to add everything at once.
  • First, add aromatics, then beef, at lastly add seasonings & sauce of tomatoes.
  • This gradual addition of items will develop a more amazing flavor.
  • If you want to lower the calories & well-coated pasta, strain off the excess grease
  • Carefully avoid the overcooking of pasta. Otherwise, it will mash up, losing its shape & texture.

STORAGE DETAILS:

REFRIGERATION:

  • Store any extra pasta in an airtight box and keep it chilled. Consume it within ~four days. Warm it up at 350 degrees F.

FREEZING:

  • Pack it in the individual portions in the boxes that must be freezer-safe & air-tight. Keep them frozen for around 60 days. Within two months, defrost, reheat, and savor whenever you choose.

FAQs:

What other types of pasta can we use?

  • You may swap the keto pasta shells with zucchini ribbons, slices of eggplant, or homemade keto pasta.

Is that possible to prepare the dish earlier?

  • Sure! You can refrigerate/freeze the fully assembled dish. It will just need a quick bake right before serving.

Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS

NUTRITIONAL FACTS/SERVING:

Size/serve: 1.25 cups
Calories: ~420 kcal
Carbs in total: Ten grams
Fiber: 4 g
Net carbs: Seven grams
Proteins: Twenty-eight grams
Sodium: 600 mg
Fats: 28 grams