Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 lean), room temperature
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ranch packet
- Black pepper, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup beef broth
- Β½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
- Pinch of paprika for color
Instructions
- Prep: Dice onion, mince garlic, shred cheese if needed (5 minutes – prep all ingredients first)
- Brown: Cook ground beef in skillet, breaking into crumbles (6-8 minutes – don’t drain fat)
- Build Flavor: Add onions and garlic, cook until soft, stir in ranch packet (3-4 minutes – fragrant aromatics)
- Create Sauce: Pour in broth and cream, add cream cheese, melt and stir (5 minutes – smooth creamy base)
- Finish: Fold in cheddar cheese gradually, garnish with chives (2-3 minutes – cheese melts perfectly)
Notes
- Don’t drain the beef fat – it adds flavor and helps create the sauce base
- Add cheese off the heat to prevent it from becoming grainy or separating
- Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting than pre-shredded varieties
- Let it rest for 2-3 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and consistency to thicken
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One Pot
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (serves 4-6)
- Calories: 485 calories
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: one pot beef cheddar, ground beef recipe, comfort food, easy dinner, cheesy beef, one pot meal