Cheesy Ranch Shells

5.00 (3)
⏱ 45 mins 🍽 6 serving(s) 🏷 Pasta Shells

This cherished family recipe for pasta shells features a rich, creamy sauce made with cheddar cheese and ranch dressing. The sauce is known for its delightful texture, which seems to burst from the shells with each bite. It is a simple, comforting bake that is always a crowd-pleaser. The dish is ready in about 45 minutes and serves six people.

Cheesy Ranch Shells

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pasta shells
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup ranch salad dressing
  • 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Method

  1. Cook the pasta shells in a large pot of boiling water until they reach your preferred texture, then drain them and place them in a large bowl.
  2. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and cook the chopped onion for about 5 minutes until it softens.
  3. Mix in the flour, salt, pepper, and mustard powder.
  4. Pour in the milk gradually while stirring, and continue to cook until the mixture thickens, then take the pan off the heat.
  5. Stir the ranch dressing and 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese into the sauce until the cheese has fully melted.
  6. Pour the prepared cheese sauce over the cooked pasta shells and mix them together thoroughly.
  7. Transfer the combined pasta and sauce into a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese on top.
  8. Bake the dish at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes until it is bubbly and the cheese topping starts to brown.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium521700 mg

Recipe details

CategoryPasta Shells
Authormailbelle