The shell and cheese recipe is a cheesy, creamy, decadent dinner that comes together in 20 minutes. The whole family will love this pasta made with pasta shells, milk, half and half, sharp cheddar, mustard powder, and bacon. Homemade shells and cheese are so much better than box mac and cheese!
Add all-purpose flour to the butter, and whisk continuously making sure to cook the flour without browning or burning. Cook the flour until no longer raw. The flour mix should be thick and pale yellow.
Pour milk and heavy whipping cream while whisking continuously. Continue whisking until the mixture thickens and is creamy.
Season cream sauce with salt (be mindful of salt, you might not need it at all), pepper, and dry mustard powder. Mix well.
Remove pan from heat. Stir in cheddar cheese a little at a time and stir until the cheese is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce.
Add most of the bacon crumbs to the pan, and reserve some for garnish.
Add drained shell pasta to the cheese mixture, and stir until pasta is fully coated in cheese sauce.
Serve immediately hot with fresh ground pepper, a hint of nutmeg if you like, and bacon crumbs.
Notes
Measure all ingredients and have them ready near the stove. The cream white sauce comes together in no time and it’s the base of this recipe. Don’t let the sauce turn cold waiting for the pasta to cook with any other prep work.
Always cook pasta al-dente.
Shred cheese from the block instead of buying pre-shredded cheese from a bag. Pre-shredded cheese has fillers (non-caking agents) that will prevent the cheese from melting and cause the sauce to turn grainy.
Allow cheese to come to room temperature before starting the recipe to ensure the creamy consistency of the sauce.
Smoked paprika or red chili flakes add a hint of kick to the dish that is great to balance the creaminess and richness of the dish.
After adding pasta the sauce is thick (note sauce will tend to thicken as it cools) adjust the consistency of the sauce by adding pasta cooked water a little at a time. Note: it's crucial pasta cooked water is hot while you add it to the pasta.
  Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.