This delicious homemade hamburger helper is a one-pot wonder that is going to be a huge hit on your dinner table! Traeger Cheesy Italian Shells is packed full of flavor and could not be easier, and the hint of smoke from grilling the meatball is the perfect compliment to the rich, cheesy tomato sauce.
I love a good boxed meal. Let me get that out of the way right away. I'm pretty sure you can find multiple boxes of easy, convenient meals from the dreaded "middle aisles" of the grocery store stocked in my pantry. I'm not too good for Hamburger Helper, Pasta Roni, Rice-a-Roni, or any of it. There's a reason they are so popular. They taste pretty darn amazing.
Sometimes I like to make things myself, though. We also deal with multiple food allergies in the house, and making things from scratch is an easy way to know exactly what's in the mix.
This homemade Traeger-fied version of one of my favorite convenience meals is only a little harder than whipping out the box. This recipe makes enough to feed a small army, so invite the teenagers AND their friends up for dinner and get cooking. They're all going to love it.
P.S. They'll also love these Biscoff Blondies for dessert!
Get 75+ of my favorite Traeger Recipes here!
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here's the list of items you'll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Try our Beefy Noodles Homemade Hamburger Helper too!
This is just the overview so you can see what you're actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you'll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
1
Preheat
Fire up the pellet grill and heat to 300°F.
2
Meatball
Mix the meatball with the meatball seasonings, form a large circular loaf, place it onto a wire rack, and place the rack on the grill. Smoke for 30 minutes.
3
Cook
While the meatball is smoking, make the sauce. Heat a Dutch oven with the olive oil and saute the onion. Add the other sauce ingredients (minus the cream and cheese, and parsley) and bring it up to a simmer.
Add the meatball into the sauce and break it up.
Add the shells and cover. Stir frequently and cook until the noodles are tender.
Add the cream and stir. Add the cheese and stir some more.
4
Enjoy
Enjoy with a loaf of crusty bread and a fresh green salad. Or whatever you want. This is your show.
Get all of my Traeger Recipes here!
Yes! If you want to skip the pellet grill, you can make this all on the stovetop. Just brown the ground beef and seasonings along with the onion, and follow the rest of the recipe as is.
This is a simple pasta dish, so it'll keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days max. Reheat in the microwave.
Don't have ground beef? Sub in some ground pork! Don't like onions? Skip it! Want to throw in some additional vegetables? Fresh peas or corn would make a great mix-in! As with most of our recipes, I encourage you to experiment!
Try our Shrimp Marinara sometime!
Our homemade Hamburger Helper Cheesy Italian Shells are great for a quick, homemade dinner! The meatball is smoked before being added to the rest of the mix, and the result is so cheesy and delicious!
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Amount Per Serving: Calories: 706Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 174mgSodium: 1804mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 52g
Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate.
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