Description
Beefy mac and cheese casserole is your ultimate comfort meal that brings hearty ground beef and creamy pasta together in one satisfying dish. Melted cheese, seasoned meat, and tender noodles create a simple weeknight dinner your family will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
Pasta:
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
Cheese and Sauce Components:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can (10.75 oz) condensed cheddar cheese soup
- 1 cup milk
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Crank your oven to 350°F and grab a 9×13 inch baking dish for greasing.
- Boil 2 cups of elbow macaroni in salted water for 8-9 minutes until perfectly al dente. Drain completely and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high and cook 1 pound ground beef, breaking it into small crumbles until no pink remains – about 6-7 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the beef using a colander, then return meat to the skillet.
- Stir 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup, and 1 cup milk into the beef. Mix thoroughly until ingredients are well combined.
- Fold in your cooked macaroni, ensuring every pasta piece gets coated with the cheesy mixture. Season generously with salt and black pepper.
- Transfer the entire mixture into your greased baking dish, spreading evenly with a spatula.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated 350°F oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the top turns golden and edges become slightly crispy.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving your hearty comfort meal.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to keep the casserole from becoming too greasy and ensure a cleaner, more balanced flavor profile.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack to customize the dish’s richness and tang.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular macaroni for gluten-free pasta and use a gluten-free condensed soup or homemade cheese sauce.
- To make this recipe more vegetable-friendly, mix in diced bell peppers, frozen peas, or sautéed spinach before baking for added nutrition and color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 555 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg