Baked mac and cheese with ground beef

This Homemade Cheeseburger Mac And Cheese Casserole is way better than the boxed version! An easy dinner recipe with simple ingredients!

This Homemade Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese is a rich and cheesy dinner that is way better than boxed Hamburger Helper. An easy weeknight meal that is going to become a family favorite! 

I used to be a huge fan of Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni when I was just married. My husband was never as keen on it, but it was easy and filling, so it was perfect for busy nights. That said, this homemade Hamburger Helper is a great recipe with great flavors that will have you turning away from the prepackaged option for good. 

We all have to keep some delicious comfort foods in our back pockets, and this is one of those for me. I know that people love box dinners and in a pinch, I completely understand, but this really does take cheesy hamburger mac and cheese to a whole new level. 

It is also one of my family’s favorite meals. We’ve tried different recipes, but this is one that I hope your whole family enjoys as well. It’s a great addition to the monthly meal plan!

Using real ingredients that you can find at the grocery store and spending a little time in the kitchen, this family friendly meal will have you ditching the box and making some homemade cheeseburger hamburger helper instead. 

Cheeseburger Mac And Cheese Recipe

How To Make:

Ingredient List:
1 lb ground beef
1 lb rotini pasta 
4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cups milk
1 can evaporated milk 12 oz
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 white onion, chopped
1 can mushrooms 7 oz (pieces and stems or sliced)
1 can whole tomatoes 14.5 oz
1 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil
1 tsp seasoning salt
2 tsp Italian seasoning
Black pepper (to taste)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Take out a cutting board and a sharp knife to chop up your onion.

Put your oil in a large skillet and cook your onions over medium-high heat until soft. This should take about 5 minutes.

Add the whole tomatoes to the browned meat mixture and about 1/2 of the tomato liquid from the can. Discard the rest of the liquid. Once in the large pan, crush the tomatoes slightly and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula.

Add the can of mushrooms to the and continue to stir. Heat everything through and set it aside.

Add 2 cups of the shredded cheese and melt it into the sauce.

When the cheese sauce is smooth, pour it into the meat mixture and stir everything to thoroughly incorporate. Then pour the pasta into that mixture and stir well. If your pan is overflowing, move everything back to the large pot and mix it there. 

Add the rest of the mixture on top of the shredded cheese in the baking dish. Top everything with the remaining cup of cheese.

Serve and enjoy! This is great with a little parmesan cheese, hot sauce, or sour cream on top as well!

Can I Use A Different Meat In This Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe?

Yes! I used lean ground beef because that is what you find in a typical cheeseburger, but you can use any other lean meat you want. Go for some lean ground turkey, ground chicken, ground sirloin, or even veggie crumbles or plant-based meat if you’d like to make this vegetarian. 

What Noodles Should I Use For This Cheeseburger Pasta? 

The best part about this homemade version is that you can alter it to your liking. I choose to make my hamburger mac & cheese with a rotini because it holds the sauce well, but any short pasta will do, so go with your personal preference. If you’d prefer elbow macaroni noodles or pasta shells, those would work as well. You can also change the type of pasta based on dietary needs, so feel free to switch the regular pasta out for gluten-free pasta. 

Can I Add Anything Else To This Delicious Recipe?

This cheeseburger macaroni dish has mushrooms, onions, and tomatoes in it, but no other vegetables. If you’d like to add some, green or red bell pepper or green beans would go nicely. Although you don’t typically see them on a cheeseburger, they could cook well in this ground beef casserole. Otherwise, serve a side dish with veggies and you’re good to go. 

Can I Turn This Into A Bacon Cheeseburger Mac And Cheese?

Yes! Some of the pickiest eaters will only try something if there is bacon in it, so it is easy enough to add here. The best way to do this is to crisp up your bacon in a separate frying pan after you’ve cooked your meat and while you are adding the remaining ingredients to the mixture. Crumble your bacon into pieces and stir them into the cooked ground beef mixture before you add anything to the casserole dish. Pour half of the mixture into the dish, sprinkle your shredded cheddar cheese on top, and continue with the directions from there. This addition will not change your cooking time. 

Are You Looking For More Delicious Mac And Cheese Recipes? Here Are Some Of My Favorites:

• Creamy Bacon Mac And Cheese
• Mac And Cheese Soup
• Mac And Cheese With French Fried Onions
• Spicy Mac And Cheese

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb rotini pasta 
• 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 cups milk
• 1 can evaporated milk 12 oz
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 white onion, chopped
• 1 can mushrooms 7 oz (pieces and stems or sliced)
• 1 can whole tomatoes 14.5 oz
• 1 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil
• 1 tsp seasoning salt
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• Black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Take out a cutting board and a sharp knife to chop up your onion.
2. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box until al dente. Strain the pasta with a colander and set it aside.
3. Put your oil in a large frying pan and cook your onions over medium-high heat until soft. This should take about 5 minutes.
4. Add your ground beef to the frying pan. Season the beef and onions with the seasoning salt, Italian seasoning and black pepper. Cook the beef until it is brown and pour off any excess fat.
5. Add the whole tomatoes to the beef mixture and about 1/2 of the tomato liquid from the can. Discard the rest of the liquid. Crush the tomatoes slightly and stir.
6. Add the can of mushrooms and continue to stir. Heat everything through and set it aside.
7. In a separate large pot, melt your butter and add the flour. Cook the roux for approximately 3 - 4 minutes until you see it browning lightly, thickening, and cooking the flour.
8. Add the milk and the evaporated milk. Stir constantly over low heat until mixture begins to boil slightly and thicken.
9. Add 2 cups of the shredded cheese and melt it into the sauce.
10. When the sauce is smooth, pour it into the meat mixture and stir everything to thoroughly incorporate. Then pour the pasta into that mixture and stir well. If your pan is overflowing, move everything back to the large pot and mix it there. 
11. Pour half of the cheeseburger mixture into your prepared pan. Sprinkle one cup of the shredded cheese over the mixture.
12. Add the rest of the mixture on top of the shredded cheese in the baking dish. Top everything with the remaining cup of cheese.
13. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until the cheese on top is nicely melted and the mixture is heated through.
14. Serve and enjoy!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 

  Gorilla Grip Oversized Cutting Board, 3 Piece, Easy Grip Handle, Juice Grooves, Non-Slip, Extra Large Thick Chopping Boards, Dishwasher Safe, Non Porous, Kitchen, Professional Serving, Set of 3, Black

• 

  HOTEC Food Grade Silicone Rubber Spatula Set Kitchen Utensils for Baking, Cooking, and Mixing High Heat Resistant Non Stick Dishwasher Safe BPA-Free Multicolor Set of 5

• 

  Pyrex Basics Clear Glass Baking 3 Oblong Dish and 1 (2 Quart), 3 pack, Red

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

This calculation is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a doctor or dietitian. This calculator is a guide, but makes no guarantee of being exact or fully accurate.

What meat goes good with mac and cheese?

Why do people put egg in baked mac and cheese?

Do you put eggs in baked macaroni and cheese?