Maddie's Shells And Cheese Recipe
Make Maddie's Shells And Cheese Recipe in just 30m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Pasta
Cheese Sauce
Topping (optional)
Method
Cooking Pasta
- 1
Boil Water
In a large pot, bring water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tsp of salt to the water.
- 2
Cook Pasta
Add 2 cups of shell pasta to the boiling water. Cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.
- 3
Drain Pasta
Once cooked, drain the pasta in a colander and set aside.
Preparing Cheese Sauce
- 4
Melt Butter
In the same pot, melt 4 tbs of unsalted butter over medium heat.
- 5
- 6
Whisk in Milk
Slowly add 2 cups of milk while whisking to prevent lumps. Continue to cook for 3-5 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- 7
Add Cheese
Reduce the heat to low and mix in 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, 4 oz of softened cream cheese, 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of onion powder, 1 tsp of paprika, 0.5 tsp of salt, and 0.25 tsp of black pepper. Stir until all cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
Combining Pasta and Sauce
- 8
Mix Pasta and Sauce
Add the drained shell pasta to the cheese sauce. Stir until the pasta is fully coated with the sauce.
Optional Topping
- 9
Prepare Topping
In a small bowl, combine 0.5 cups of breadcrumbs, 0.5 cups of grated Parmesan cheese, and 2 tbs of melted unsalted butter. Mix well.
- 10
Add Topping
Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the pasta and cheese in the pot.
- 11
Broil
Place the pot under a broiler for 2-3 minutes until the topping is golden brown. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
Serving
- 12
Serve
Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Serve warm and enjoy your Maddie’s Shells and Cheese!