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A plate of beef Mac and cheese.
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4.84 from 6 votes

Beef Mac and Cheese

Easy to prepare with less than 10 simple ingredients, this Beef Mac and Cheese is absolutely delicious and sure to become a weekly dinner for the family. This recipe is a foolproof classic in our house and better yet it's made from start to finish in just 45 minutes.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 418kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound jumbo elbow macaroni
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 28 ounce tomato sauce
  • 14.5 ounces beef broth
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • Garnish options: sliced green onions or chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. 
  • Cook pasta in boiling salted water per package directions and drain.
  • In a large skillet on medium-high heat, brown ground beef until no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
  • Stir in salt, pepper, sugar, garlic powder, tomato sauce, and beef broth until well blended.
  • Fold in 1 cup of each shredded cheese. Once combined, fold in the drained pasta. 
  • Pour the mixture into a 13”x9” baking dish, and top with remaining cheeses.
  • Bake covered with aluminum foil for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes Garnish with sliced green onions or parsley if desired.

Video

Notes

Tips: 

    • Cheese Variations: Feel free to mix in other cheeses like Gruyère, Parmesan cheese, pepper jack, or Monterey Jack for a different flavor profile.
    • Pasta Options: Besides jumbo elbow macaroni, you can also use regular macaroni, shells, rigatoni, cavatappi, rotini, ziti, or penne.
    • Vegetable Add-Ins: Add vegetables like green pepper, yellow onion, or spinach for extra nutrition and flavor.
    • Ground Turkey or Chicken: Substitute lean ground beef with ground chicken or turkey for a lighter version.
    • Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for a spicy twist.
    • More Seasoning Options: You can add more pizzazz to chili Mac by adding Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, chili powder, or cayenne pepper.

Nutrition

Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 1255mg | Potassium: 681mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 616IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 229mg | Iron: 3mg
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