Description
A creamy, cheesy, one-pot pasta dish made with ground beef, tender macaroni, and a rich cheddar sauce. A nostalgic comfort food classic made from scratch — no box needed!
Ingredients
Ground Beef:
1 lb
Olive Oil or Butter:
2 tbsp
Onion:
1 small, finely diced
Garlic:
2 cloves, minced
Elbow Macaroni:
2 cups, uncooked
Beef Broth:
2 cups (or chicken broth)
Milk:
1 cup (whole milk preferred)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese:
2 cups
Paprika:
1 tsp
Onion Powder:
1 tsp
Garlic Powder:
1 tsp
Salt & Pepper:
To taste
Fresh Parsley:
Chopped (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Heat oil & cook beef: Heat oil in a skillet, add beef, cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Sauté onion & garlic: Add onion and garlic, sauté until softened.
- Add ingredients: Stir in macaroni, broth, milk, spices. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 10–12 minutes.
- Melt cheese: Remove from heat, stir in cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Garnish & serve: Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, stir in 2 tbsp cream cheese.
- Swap cheddar for Colby Jack or mozzarella for a different flavor.
- Add frozen peas or corn at the end for a veggie boost.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Comfort Food
- Method: One-Pot, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approx. 600
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
