Description
Traeger cheesy Italian shells deliver a mouthwatering comfort dish perfect for family dinners. Smoky cheese and pasta create a delightful culinary experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (0.91 kg) lean ground beef
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 lb (0.45 kg) pasta shells
- 5 cups (1.18 L) beef broth
- 1 (28 oz/794 g) can tomato sauce
- ½ cup (118 mL) heavy cream
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat Traeger pellet grill to 300F (150C), establishing an optimal smoking environment for the meatball.
- Meatball Creation: Combine ground beef with seasonings, form into a substantial meatball, and position on a wire rack. Smoke for 30 minutes, infusing deep, complex flavors.
- Sauce Foundation: In a Dutch oven, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until fragrant. Add tomato sauce, beef broth, and spices, creating a robust liquid base that simmers gently.
- Meat Integration: Transfer smoked meatball into simmering sauce, breaking it into rustic fragments. Allow meat to dissolve and meld with the sauce’s rich, developing flavors.
- Pasta Cooking: Submerge pasta shells completely in the meaty sauce, covering the pot. Cook until pasta reaches perfect tenderness, stirring occasionally to prevent adherence and ensure even cooking.
- Creamy Finish: Remove from heat, swirl in heavy cream, and gradually fold in shredded cheddar cheese until a smooth, velvety sauce emerges.
- Presentation: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, adding a vibrant, herbaceous touch to this Traeger-smoked culinary creation.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Texture: Gently mix ground beef to prevent tough meatballs; use light hands and avoid overworking the meat mixture for tender, juicy results.
- Control Smoke Intensity: Select mild wood pellets like apple or hickory to enhance meat flavor without overpowering the dish’s delicate seasoning profile.
- Prevent Pasta Clumping: Stir shells frequently during cooking and add a splash of olive oil to the sauce to maintain separation and ensure even sauce coating.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Remove pot from direct heat when adding cheese, stirring gradually to create smooth, creamy consistency without grainy or separated sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 616
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 743 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 104 mg