Frequent visitors to my food blog will know that there is nothing I love more than a good Gourmet Mac and Cheese.
I usually prefer my Mac & Cheese to be heavy on cheese but sometimes it’s nice for the cheese to be in moderation. Just like this Mac and Cheeseburger recipe.
For this recipe, I decided to use Tri-Color Rotini but just like any Mac & Cheese recipe, you can use whatever type of pasta you want.
Recipe Tip
While you can pretty much use any brand of cream cheese, I highly recommend you use Philadelphia brand cream cheese. You will taste the difference.
The important thing to remember is to cook the pasta al dente by following the directions on the package. Overcooked pasta in Mac & Cheese is just not as good in my opinion.
I often get asked why I add ground mustard to the cheese sauce. Basically the ground mustard makes the cheese “cheesier”.
What is Al Dente
When making Mac and Cheese, it’s important to cook the pasta al dente to ensure the best texture possible. If you are not familiar with the term “al dente”, it means cooking the pasta so it’s still chewy and form and that it will hold its shape when the sauce is added to it.
Recipe Variation
I usually make this Mac & Cheese dish with ground beef but on a few occasions, I have used ground turkey. Either one will taste great! Remember that if you use ground beef, try to get it as lean as possible.
How to Handle Raw Beef
- Thaw frozen ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid dripping onto other foods.
- Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
- Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
- Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
- Use a Thermometer to ensure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.
Another of my favorite recipes to make is my One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese. Super easy to make!
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Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Mac and Cheeseburger recipe. For ingredient amounts please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Pasta – I often use Rotini when making Mac and Cheese
- Lean Ground Beef – as lean as possible to avoid excess grease
- Yellow Onion – sweet onion or white onions are good substitutes
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Dry Mustard
- Diced Tomatoes
- Low-fat Milk
- All Purpose Flour – I mostly use King Arthur but use what you got (no affiliation)
- Cheddar Cheese – mild or sharp, your choice
- Cream Cheese – I like Philadelphia brand (no affiliation)
- Parsley
- Kosher Salt – regular salt is fine too
- Ground Black Pepper – Freshly Ground as much as possible
How to Make Mac and Cheeseburger
- Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add beef, onion, Worcestershire, and mustard. Cook, stirring often until meat is done. Transfer meat mixture to a bowl. Stir in tomatoes.
- Add milk and flour into skillet. Stir constantly until a rue is formed. Add cheeses and stir until all the cheese is melted.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in pasta and meat mixture. Top with parsley (optional), salt, and pepper.
Printable Recipe Card
Mac and Cheeseburger
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Ingredients
- 15 oz Pasta
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
- ¼ Cup Yellow Onion, diced
- 1 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ Tsp Ground Dry Mustard
- 14.5 oz Diced Tomatoes, drained
- 1 Cup Low-fat Milk
- 1 ½ Tsp All Purpose Flour
- 3 oz Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- 3 Tbsp Cream Cheese
- 2 Tbsp Dried Parsley Flakes, optional
- ½ Tsp Kosher Salt
- ¼ Tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add beef, onion, Worcestershire, and mustard. Cook, stirring often, until meat is done. Transfer meat mixture to a bowl. Stir in tomatoes.
- Add milk and flour into skillet. Stir constantly until a rue is formed. Add cheeses and stir until all the cheese is melted.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in pasta and meat mixture. Top with parsley (optional), salt, and pepper.
Equipment Needed
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This Mac and cheese is the best I have ever had. Very flavourful and delicious.
This pasta dish is great. First time making it and it was a big hit. Family and friends just loved it. Instead of the ground beef I used the ground turkey.