Description
One night, at 6 PM, I found myself staring into my fridge, unsure of what to feed my family. I had ground beef, some pasta, cheese, and a packet of ranch dressing mix that had been sitting in my pantry forever. Fast forward 30 minutes, and boom—this creamy, cheesy, ranch-flavored pasta dish had everyone asking for seconds. It’s like the grown-up version of those boxed mac and cheese dinners, but way better, and everything cooks in ONE POT. Yes, you heard that right—one pot, minimal cleanup, maximum deliciousness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Players:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 is perfect—not too lean, not too fatty)
- 12 oz of pasta, such as penne, rotini, or shells, works best because these types hold the sauce well.
- 3 cups beef broth (the good stuff, not the watery kind)
- 1 cup heavy cream (don’t you dare use milk—we’re going full indulgent here).
- 1 packet of ranch dressing mix (the seasoning packet, not the bottled stuff).
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (shred your own—the pre-shredded stuff has that weird coating)
- 1/2 cup cream cheese (softened, or you’ll have lumps)
Supporting Cast:
- 1 medium onion, diced (because everything starts with onion)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (or more; I don’t judge)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for browning the beef)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional but adds a nice touch)
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped (for garnish and color)
- Optional: 1 cup frozen peas or corn (for some veggies)