When it comes to quick and convenient homemade meals, the Instant Pot and the slow cooker are two modern inventions that go a long way in making life easier. The difference between the two is that the Instant Pot allows you to saute your foods in the insert, so you get a truly one-pot set-it-and-forget-it meal. (Less dishes is always good news as far as we’re concerned.) Our Creamy Instant Pot Shells and Beef makes perfect use of those features for one comforting, delicious, easy-to-make meal.

You start here by browning the beef and sauteeing some onion in the Instant Pot itself. That means no extra pans or dishes required. Then, you add the noodles, some seasoning, and some tomato sauce before closing the pot to let it work its magic.

The noodles cook in their own sauce which means that they absorb so much of that wonderful flavor. While we start with a jar of pre-made sauce, it’s doctored up with a few additional seasonings to give it a little homemade flair. Once the Instant Pot timer dings and the noodles are nice and tender, you stir in a little heavy cream, Parmesan, and some cream cheese.

The Parmesan gives you that gooey comfort that only cheese can, while the cream cheese makes for an amazingly satisfying creamy sauce. Every spoonful has the tender chew of shells with a bite of ground beef, all surrounded by a rich tomato sauce. It’s the kind of meal that bridges the gap between comfort food and a quick weeknight meal. It’s a crave-worthy dinner, but it’s one that will take you no more than twenty minutes.