Kid-Approved Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese with Beef make for the perfect combination and filling meal. A kids classic turns into a culinary masterpiece that everybody is going to love.
Add a little kick and a little flavor to it and you have yourself the perfect dinner for the pickiest eaters.
I found this macaroni and cheese recipe over at Kevin & Amanda and it has quickly become one of our family’s favorite meals- mostly because my kids devour it. It is easy to prepare- only takes about 20 minutes- and tastes amazing.
Want to try another family favorite? Check out our popular Instant Pot Creamy Macaroni and Cheese!
How to Brown Ground Beef
When purchasing ground beef, it’s important to understand that a higher fat to meat ratio means the meat is going to shrink up a little more as it cooks.
The store sells the higher fat beef cheaper and this may seem like the more budget-friendly option, but you are also getting less beef out of it. Either way, you get what you pay for.
When browning ground beef, you will want to use a nonstick skillet or spray a skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Add the uncooked beef to the pan and cook over medium-high heat.
Use a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula to evenly break up the meat as it cooks. You could also use a spatula to break of the meat into small, evenly sized, pieces.
Cook until there is no pink left in the meat. Browning ground beef usually takes about 10-15 minutes.
How to tame the spice in this cheeseburger Macaroni
Depending on the taco seasoning and the green chiles you buy, this could get a little spicy. We have found that to cool the spice, we mix in a little sour cream.
If you are looking for a healthier alternative, you could also use Greek yogurt.
adjusting this Macaroni and cheese recipe for Tomato haters
If you have a few family members that don’t particularly love tomatoes, you could blend them up or use a little tomato sauce. We recommend using sauce because it comes a little more flavored and salted than paste.
You could also use a little marinara sauce. However, changing up the ingredients might effect the consistency. We recommend adding extra noodles or meat when leaving out the tomatoes and using a tomato substitute.
Related recipe: If you love our cheeseburger macaroni, you’ll love our Ground beef and macaroni tomato soup!
What do you serve with Cheeseburger Macaroni:
Serves: 6
15 minPrep Time
25 minCook Time
40 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning mix
- 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 2 cups beef broth (or water)
- 1 cup elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Brown ground beef and drain grease.
- Stir in taco seasoning, tomatoes, beef broth, and macaroni and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover pan. Simmer 12-14 minutes until macaroni is tender.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan.
- Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking for 4-5 minutes until it becomes fragrant and starts to turn a light brown color. Whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. Whisk until smooth and mixture starts to thicken. Remove mixture from heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Add the salt and pepper to the cheese sauce. Pour the cheese sauce over the hamburger mixture. Stir gently to combine.
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Picky eaters are no joke! Check out our 20 Dinner Recipes for Picky Eaters!
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Hope you have a great weekend!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/