CRAZY good! The entire family cleaned up their plates and returned for more!

Conchitas with Ground Beef is a delightful dish that combines the fun shapes of conchita pasta shells with a savory ground beef sauce. It’s a perfect weeknight meal that’s easy to prepare yet full of flavor.

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Ingredients:

For the Conchitas:
Ingredients: Quantity
Conchitas Pasta (or any small pasta shells) 12 ounces
Olive Oil 1 tablespoon
Salt To taste
For the Ground Beef Sauce:
Ingredients: Quantity
Ground Beef 1 pound
Onion (medium, finely chopped) 1
Garlic Cloves (minced) 2
Diced Tomatoes (canned, 14 ounces) 1 can
Tomato Sauce (canned, 8 ounces) 1 can
Ground Cumin 1 teaspoon
Chili Powder 1 teaspoon (adjust to taste)
Paprika ½ teaspoon
Salt and Black Pepper To taste
Frozen Corn Kernels (optional) 1 cup
Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese 1 cup
Fresh Cilantro Leaves For garnish

Instructions:

  1. Cook the Conchitas:

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
    • Add the conchitas pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (slightly firm to the bite).
    • Drain the pasta and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
  2. Brown the Ground Beef:

    • In a large skillet, heat over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
  3. Sauté the Aromatics:

    • Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the cooked ground beef.
    • Sauté for 2-3 minutes, until the onion becomes translucent.
  4. Simmer the Sauce:

    • Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their juices), tomato sauce, ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
    • Let the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
  5. Combine Pasta and Sauce (Optional Corn):

    • Add the cooked and drained conchitas pasta to the skillet with the ground beef sauce.
    • If using, add the frozen corn kernels and stir to combine. Cook for an additional 5 minutes until the corn is heated through.
  6. Top with Cheese and Melt:

    • Sprinkle the shredded Mexican blend cheese evenly over the top of the pasta and sauce mixture.
    • Cover the skillet with a lid and let it sit for a few minutes until the cheese melts and becomes gooey.
  7. Garnish and Serve:

    • Garnish your Conchitas with Ground Beef with fresh cilantro leaves for a burst of color and flavor.
    • Serve warm, spooning generous portions onto plates.

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