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Home » Beef » Cheesy Meatballs & Shells Casserole

Cheesy Meatballs & Shells Casserole

January 15, 2017 by Judith Hannemann

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Meatballs and shells pasta cooked in a creamy cheesy beefy sauce. Total comfort food!

This easy meatball and shells casserole is smothered in a creamy beefy cheese sauce, and topped with buttered Ritz crumbs. This is pure comfort food.

Tasty Comfort Casserole

This casserole is feel-good food. That makes it a perfect dinner for a winter’s evening.

You have all the basics here. Tasty beef, filling pasta and a beef-flavored creamy cheese sauce.

This dinner is as easy as can be! So all you have to add is a green salad on the side to complete the meal.

Meatballs and shells pasta cooked in a creamy cheesy beefy sauce. Total comfort food!

Meatballs: Store Bought Or Your Own

This casserole becomes super easy if you use frozen store-bought meatballs because all you have to do is defrost them. Nothing could be easier!

Same thing applies if you make your own favorite meatball recipe and freeze them. That’s what I do because I haven’t ever found a store-bought variety that I really liked. I give a link to my favorite recipe in the recipe card if you’d like to try mine, but your own favorite recipe is great too!

If using store-bought, I’d recommend a traditional variety of meatballs. Italian flavored wouldn’t be so good in here IMO. But that’s just my personal taste. You may like it and there are no competing herbs in the sauce itself that would not go with typical Italian seasoning.

Meatballs and shells pasta cooked in a creamy cheesy beefy sauce. Total comfort food!

Velveeta?

Yes, that’s right–Velveeta!

It actually tastes great in this beefy sauce, but there’s another reason for it. Did you know it keeps the sauce from separating? It does, so I consider it a miracle ingredient in cheese sauce.

In fact, I always add a bit even when I’m making a sauce with natural cheese. The difference in texture is amazing and you don’t need a lot of it either.

This sauce, however, doesn’t have any natural cheeses in it. Just the Velveeta. But if you want to make the sauce with natural cheese, you can surely try it. It may not turn out right so I’m not saying go ahead and it’ll be the same. I haven’t tested this sauce with natural cheese even combined with the Velveeta. Substituting will be at your own risk, but if you do, I’d be curious to know your results, so let me know.

Meatballs and shells pasta cooked in a creamy cheesy beefy sauce. Total comfort food!

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Meatballs and shells pasta cooked in a creamy cheesy beefy sauce. Total comfort food!
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Cheesy Meatballs & Shells Casserole

This easy meatball and shells casserole is smothered in a creamy beefy cheese sauce, and topped with buttered Ritz crumbs. This is pure comfort food.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time45 mins
Course: beef, Comfort Foods, Everyday Meals, pasta
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef, casserole recipe, cheese sauce, pasta
Servings: 4 -6
Calories: 1484kcal
Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

  • 2 cups medium shells uncooked
  • 1 1/2 - 2 lbs small cooked meatballs see NOTES
  • 1 cup process cheese like Velveeta cubed
  • 1/2 sleeve buttery crackers crushed (like Ritz)
  • 1 tbsp butter melted

SAUCE

  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 cups rich beef stock see NOTES
  • 1 can 10.75 oz cream of mushroom soup (I use reduced sodium)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 1 1/2-2 quart baking dish or casserole.
  • Cook shells per package instructions.
  • To make sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt the 2 tbs butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour making sure there are no lumps. Cook over medium heat until the flour/butter mixture bubbles.
  • Gradually add the beef stock, stirring constantly so mixture remains smooth. Cook, stirring frequently over medium heat until mixture begins to thicken and bubble. Add the cubed process cheese and cook over low heat until cheese is melted; about 4-5 minutes.
  • Place the mushroom soup in a large bowl. Gradually stir in the cheese sauce until well blended and smooth.
  • Fold in the cooked shells and meatballs. Turn into prepared baking dish.
  • Mix the 1 tbs melted butter with the crushed cracker crumbs; toss to coat. Sprinkle over top of casserole.
  • Bake for 35-30 minutes or until heated through and crumbs are golden brown.

Notes

Link to my meatball recipe-->Favorite Meatballs
I use Better Than Bouillon mixed per jar directions as I find it has a great taste. Use whatever you like, but make sure it's a high-quality beef stock as the sauce depends on it's flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 1484kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 83g | Fat: 105g | Saturated Fat: 43g | Cholesterol: 344mg | Sodium: 1127mg | Potassium: 1519mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 625IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 441mg | Iron: 5mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @midnitebaker or tag #midnitebaker!

 

Meatballs and shells pasta cooked in a creamy cheesy beefy sauce. Total comfort food!
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Filed Under: Beef, Comfort Foods, Everyday Meals, Pasta Tagged With: beef, casseroles, cheese sauce, pasta

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Reader Interactions

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Comments

  1. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says

    January 15, 2017 at 5:07 pm

    Your dish should read the best of the best! I can’t think of a better lineup of ingredients that screams comfort food. I’m pinning it!! Can’t wait to make it. Happy Sunday!
    Marisa Franca @ All Our Way recently posted…Grilled Italian Pesto Salmon 30 Minutes Start to FinishMy Profile

    • Judith Hanneman says

      January 15, 2017 at 6:07 pm

      Thanks Marisa and enjoy the rest of the weekend and holiday!

  2. JoAnn says

    January 25, 2017 at 3:05 pm

    Do you thaw your meatballs?

    • Judith Hanneman says

      January 25, 2017 at 8:06 pm

      I do so the casserole cooks faster, but you don’t have to if you don’t mind waiting. I’d say about an hour if they are frozen.

      • JoAnn says

        January 26, 2017 at 12:14 am

        Thank you!

        • Judith Hanneman says

          January 26, 2017 at 1:34 am

          <3

  3. Shelly says

    February 2, 2017 at 5:43 am

    This sounds really good! Can’t wait to try this on my 2 little grandsons who love Mac-n-Cheese cups! My son eats anything and everything, so I know he’ll like it…lol… Thank you so much! Have a great weekend!!

    • Judith Hanneman says

      February 2, 2017 at 4:56 pm

      Your grandbabies will definitely love this!!!

  4. Kristin says

    February 5, 2017 at 5:47 am

    Made this tonight, it is comfort food at its best.Absolutely delicious. Also made your meatballs they were awesome.

    • Judith Hanneman says

      February 5, 2017 at 4:05 pm

      Glad you liked it!

  5. Dixie says

    February 7, 2017 at 1:01 am

    I made it with Kraft shells and velveta cheese. I just added 1can mushroom soup ,meatballs, and cracker crumbs. Absolutely loved it. Thank you for this fast and easy recipe.

    • Judith Hanneman says

      February 7, 2017 at 1:45 am

      That makes it even quicker!!!

  6. Dixie says

    February 7, 2017 at 1:02 am

    I used velvety mac and cheese, meatballs, can mushroom soup, cracker crumbs. Was wonderful! Thank you

    • Judith Hanneman says

      February 7, 2017 at 1:45 am

      Sounds great & glad you liked it!!

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