Pioneer Woman Quick Shells And Cheese Recipe
Craving comfort food that's ready fast? The Pioneer Woman Quick Shells And Cheese Recipe is perfect. This creamy, cheesy dish takes minimal effort.
Equipment
- Large pot
- Colander
- Medium saucepan
- Wooden spoon or whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium shell pasta
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil.
- Add salt to the boiling water.
- Pour in the shell pasta carefully.
- Cook for 8-9 minutes until tender.
- Drain the pasta in a colander.
- Set it aside while making sauce.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan.
- Add flour and whisk it constantly.
- Cook for about 1-2 minutes together.
- This creates a smooth paste called roux.
- Slowly pour in the milk while whisking.
- Keep stirring to avoid lumps forming.
- Remove the saucepan from direct heat.
- Add cheddar and mozzarella cheese gradually.
- Stir until the cheese melts completely.
- Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Mix everything together until perfectly smooth.
- Pour the cooked pasta into sauce.
- Stir gently to coat every shell.
- The sauce should be thick and creamy.
- Let it sit for 2 minutes.
- This helps the sauce thicken more.
- Serve immediately while it's hot and gooey.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for best results.
- Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents.
- These can make your sauce grainy.
- Whole milk creates the creamiest texture possible.
- Don't substitute with skim or low-fat.
- Stir the sauce constantly while cooking.
- This prevents burning on the bottom.
- Add cheese off the heat always.
- High heat can make cheese stringy.
- For extra flavor, add cooked bacon bits.
- You can also mix in steamed broccoli.