Cheeseburger Macaroni

This Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni is just as delicious as you remember but uses ingredients you actually recognize. With lean ground beef and plenty of gooey cheese, you'll make even more happy memories.

Family dinners were not really a thing at my house, especially as my brother and I got a bit older. With me taking every dance lesson available and him doing every sport on offer, plus my parents running a small business in addition to their jobs, it was a rare evening when everyone was at home at the same time. Convenience foods saved the day on many occasiona.

I would never dream of turning my nose up at something like Hamburger Helper, boxed mac and cheese or Stovetop Stuffing. In fact, I still love to eat some of these things today. But now that I'm the one in the kitchen, I honestly find it just as easy, most of the time, to make these things from scratch. That being said, nothing is quite the same as Kraft Mac & Cheese, and I miss it so much since moving to Scotland. Sometimes you just need those flavors from your childhood, and nothing else will do.

What makes this Cheeseburger Macaroni so awesome?

Making homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni might take a little bit longer than making it from a box, but not by much. In fact, if your cheese is already grated, all you really have to do is measure out some cornstarch and spices. To me, it's totally worth the little bit of extra effort to have control over the flavors and ingredients. And the result tastes just like, if not better, than the store bought stuff.

I love that this recipe easily feeds four people (or two people twice, in our case). You could bake up some garlic bread to go along with it, steam up some veggies, or make a crunchy green salad to round out the meal. Honestly though, I kinda just want to eat this on the couch in a big bowl while watching 80's sitcoms. It may not be sexy, but it's certainly delicious.

Magical Properties of Garlic

You don't need to work with a whole head of fresh garlic to call on the vibration of this powerful ingredient. The garlic powder in this recipe still carries the protective energy of this pungent plant. Featuring prominently in vampire lore, garlic can be used in spells for banishment and exorcism, as well as home protection. Ruled by Mars, Aries, and the element of fire, it has a strong masculine or projective energy. Offer garlic to Circe, Cybele, or Hecate. (Source: The Hearth Witch's Compendium by Anna Franklin)

To learn more about the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this dish. The full details are in the recipe card below.

• Ground beef - I go for a leaner option here, but you can always drain off excess fat if you need to save money
• Cornstarch
• Paprika
• Garlic powder - or granules
• Onion powder - or granules
• Salt
• Sugar - You can leave this out if you feel really compelled, but this is part of what makes those box kits taste so awesome.
• Black pepper
• Beef broth - You could just use water, but this really deepens the flavor. I use stock cubes
• Milk - Whole milk is ideal, but whatever you have is fine.
• Cheddar cheese - I use a medium cheddar and I think orange cheddar gives the dish a more appetizing color than white, but go with what you got.

Tips for making Cheeseburger Macaroni

Start by browning your meat in a large skillet. We're making lots of food in one pot here, so give yourself space. If there's quite a lot of liquid in the pan after the beef has cooked, strain it and return the meat to the pan.

While that's cooking, you can measure out your cornstarch, sugar, and spices into a small dish, then sprinkle them over the cooked meat and give it a good stir. Then you'll add your liquids and the pasta, bring it to a boil, and let that all simmer until the pasta is cooked.

Then all that's left to do is stir in the cheese. Turn off the heat and let it cool before serving. This will give the sauce a chance to thicken up. I like to sprinkle over a bit more grated cheese and some chopped green onion for a bit of color and fresh flavor.

Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni is so awesome, you're going to want to make it a weeknight dinner regular. Not everything about the 80's needs to die, especially when it's this delicious and easy.

Looking for more awesome comfort food recipes? Try this Sloppy Joe Caserole or Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf.

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Recipe slightly adapted from House of Nash Eats.