Cheeseburger Macaroni
If you’re looking for an easy and hassle-free weeknight dinner, this cheeseburger macaroni hits all the marks. With tender pasta and seasoned ground beef that’s topped with melted cheese, this dish not only packs a ton of flavor but can be made in one pan from start to finish.
This post contains affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy.
Table of Contents
About Cheeseburger Macaroni
It’s hard to go wrong with a cheesy pasta dish, but when you add savory ground beef and some simple herbs and spices? Now you’ve got an easy dinner that’s sure to be a hit.
And if that wasn’t enough, this cheeseburger macaroni is made in one pan in about 20 minutes.
Easy and delicious? Talk about a win-win!
What you’ll need to make cheeseburger macaroni:
- A large skillet with a lid – To help the pasta cook evenly, a wide skillet works best, ideally one that’s more than 12 inches in diameter.
- Mesh strainer – Normally you don’t need to drain the grease when cooking with lean ground beef, but if you do, a mesh strainer will help ensure you don’t lose any of the cooked meat.
- Heat resistant spoon or spatula – Ideal for cooking, stirring, and serving.
Notes & tips for homemade cheeseburger macaroni
- This recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but feel free to use any type of cheese that you like! Try Mexican blend or American cheese.
- I like to add tomatoes for a more authentic “cheeseburger” experience, but you can get creative with this step. You can use another type of canned tomatoes (like salsa or tomatoes with green chilies) to add a bit more flavor.
- In the mood for another delicious one-pot meal? Check out this recipe for One Pan Cheesy Taco Skillet.
More great pasta recipes
How do you make cheeseburger macaroni in one pot?
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
One pot recipes really are a thing of magic, but the process is simple enough. Use the right ingredients in the right order and you’ll only need to wash one pan when you’re done.
Step 1 – Cook and crumble the ground beef in a large skillet. You can use olive oil and season with minced garlic if you’d like.
Step 2 – Add your spices and mix them in with the cooked meat. For this recipe, it has Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3 – Add the liquid (typically chicken broth or water) and uncooked pasta (this recipe uses elbow pasta).
Step 4 – Bring to a boil, then cover the skillet and cook until pasta is tender, typically 10-15 minutes.
Step 5 – Mix in cheeses and any other additions you’d like. Cover the pot again and let the cheese melt for 2-4 minutes.
Step 6 – Serve and enjoy!
This post first appeared on The Slow Roasted Italian website and has been syndicated here.
Cheeseburger Macaroni
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 8 ounce elbow pasta, (uncooked)
- 2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil. Add garlic and cook until golden brown and fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add ground beef to skillet and cook and crumble until browned, about 5-8 minutes. If necessary, drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Add Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, salt, and pepper to ground beef, then quickly stir to coat the ground beef.
- Pour in chicken broth and elbow pasta to skillet, then stir. Bring mixture to a boil, cover, and allow to cook until pasta is tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove saucepan from heat. Lift lid and add cheddar cheese and diced tomatoes, then stir to mix. Return lid and let cheeseburger macaroni sit for 2-4 minutes or until cheese has melted.
- Serve cheeseburger macaroni immediately with chopped parsley as garnish.
Nutrition
I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I'm not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.
