Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese

 

Macaroni and Cheese = Comfort Food for my kids and hubby.  They love it, but I get bored making the basic version again and again.  I'm always looking for a new way to infuse some extra excitement into  it. So I decided to make Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese and it was a big hit with the crowd.  I put all your basic cheeseburger condiments into this mac and cheese so it really tasted like you were biting into a cheeseburger with every bite of pasta.  When I asked if anyone wanted seconds it was an unanimous "Yes, Please!"

Ingredients:
1lb cooked pasta of choice (I used penne, but elbows or any shape workw great too)
1lb lean ground beef (93% fat free)
1 small onion chopped
1 green pepper (or any green chili) sliced
salt and black pepper to taste
1 tsp granulated garlic powder
red chili flakes to taste
1 tsp dried oregano flakes (1/2 tsp ground)
1 tsp dried basil flakes
2 Tbs all purpose flour
1 cup pasta water
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
8-10 slices American slice cheese
2-3 Tbs ketchup
1-2 tsp yellow mustard
1 Tbs relish
1/2 diced fresh tomato (Optional)
More slices cheese (or shredded cheese for topping)

Directions:

Note:  Boil pasta in a big pot of salted water.  Cook until al dente (or just shy of fully cooked) because it will finish off in the sauce.  Remember before you drain the pasta to scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water so you can have it ready for your sauce.

Brown ground beef and season with salt and black pepper.  Then add onions and chilies and saute for 2-3 minutes (if needed at a little canola oil).  Next add oregano, basil, red chili flakes and granulated garlic and saute for 1 minute.

Next add flour mix well with seasoned browned beef.  Then add Worcestershire sauce and pasta water and make sure to scrap all the brown bits on the bottom of pan.  There is a lot of great flavor in those brown bits.

Then add sliced cheese, ketchup, mustard and relish. Mix well into beef.

Add chopped tomatoes and mix well into beef.  Then add cooked and drained pasta and toss well with beef.  Once pasta is fully mixed with beef mixture, top with more slice cheese or grated cheddar cheese and put a lid on pot to melt.  Serve hot.  Enjoy.
 




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