1small diced yellow onioncan sub 1 tsp onion powder
3clovesminced garliccan sub ½ tsp garlic powder
1teaspoonhot sauce
1TablespoonWorcestershire Sauce
1teaspoonItalian seasoning
½teaspoonmustard powder
1pinchred pepper flakesoptional
3Tablespoonsflouroptional-helps thicken the sauce
1cupbeef broth
16oz.tomato sauce
1Tablespoontomato paste
1Tablespooncream cheesesoftened
½cupshalf and half
1 ½cupsshredded cheddar cheese
½poundmedium shell pasta
Fresh parsleyto garnish
Grated Parmesan cheesefor serving.
Instructions
Shred the cheese and measure out all ingredients prior to beginning. Begin heating the pasta water for boiling.
Season the ground beef with salt/pepper. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the beef. Cook and crumble it for 4 minutes. Add the onions and cook for 5 more minutes, or until the onions are softened and the beef is cooked through. Drain grease.
Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Add hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, mustard powder, red pepper flakes, and flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add the beef broth and use a silicone spatula to ‘clean’ the bottom of the skillet.
Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, and softened cream cheese. Let the sauce simmer while you boil the shells for 7-8 minutes or as instructed on package. (Optional, add a few teaspoons of salt to the boiling water.)
Decrease heat to low. Stir in the half and half. Remove from heat and gradually stir in the shredded cheese until well-combined.
Add the drained pasta and stir to combine. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with garlic bread with cheese and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Shred the cheese from a block. It will melt (and taste!) much better than bagged shredded cheese, which contains cellulose to prevent it from clumping in the bag (but also makes it melt less creamy.) I use Cracker Barrel sharp yellow cheddar.The hot sauce enhances all of the other flavors in the dish. It won’t make it spicy. I use Texas Pete hot sauce.If you don’t have mustard powder or tomato paste, they can be omitted, but they do add subtle but excellent flavor to the sauce. The tomato paste also helps to thicken the sauce.A variety of different pastas will work in this recipe, including rotini, farfalle (bowtie), and fusilli.