Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onion softens.
1 tbsp olive oil, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 stick celery, 1 red bell pepper
Add the garlic and cook for a further minute.
2 cloves garlic
Add the minced beef and cook for 5-6 minutes, until browned. Stir often, breaking up any large chunks of meat with a spatula.
450 g (1 lb) minced beef
Add the tomato puree, oregano, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, milk, tinned tomatoes, salt, and pepper and stir together and bring to the boil.
3 tbsp tomato puree, 1 tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp dried thyme, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 300 ml (1 ¼ cups) beef stock, 120 ml (1/2 cup) milk, 2 x 400 g (2 x 14 oz) tins finely chopped tomatoes, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
Stir in the pasta shells, bring back to the boil, then turn down the heat to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for 17-22 minutes, stirring a couple of times during cooking, until the pasta is cooked through.
300 g (10.5 oz) pasta shells
Remove the lid, then stir in the cream and cheese, until the cheese melts.
120 ml (1/2 cup) double (heavy) cream, 100 g (1 packed cup) grated cheddar
Serve topped with chopped chives, chilli flakes, and grated parmesan.
small bunch chives, chilli flakes, grated parmesan
Video
Notes
Can I make it ahead?Yes, you can make the whole thing ahead, then cool, cover and refrigerate for up to two days.Reheat in a pan, on the hob, over a medium heat, stirring often. You'll probably need to add a few splashes of water or stock to loosen up the sauce.Note: As the dish cools, the pasta will continue to absorb liquid, so the pasta will be a little softer upon reheating.Can I freeze it?Yes, leftover portions can be placed in freezer-proof containers and frozen. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat as per the 'make ahead' instructions above.Ingredient swaps/additions
Swap out the beef mince for pork or turkey mince
Swap out the pasta shells other pasta shapes such as rigatoni or spirals
Add in extra veggies - such as chopped courgette or mushrooms (add at the same at the tinned tomatoes), or you could stir in baby spinach for the last minute of cooking.
How to scale down this recipeYou can scale down this recipe to serve 2-3 people by halving the ingredients. It's a good idea to use a smaller pan. The cooking time will be the same.Alternative to creamYou can leave out the cream entirely if you wish. You can add an extra splash of water or stock to loosen up the sauce if you like. Alternatively, you can add a couple of spoonfuls of creme fraiche or 4 tbsp (1/4 cup) coconut milk.Nutritional information is approximate, per serving, based on this recipe making 6 servings. Nutritional information does not include toppings.