Hamburger Mac and Cheese

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Total Time 30

This quick and easy one pot Hamburger Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food made easy! Ready for the dinner table in just 30 minutes. Made with simple pantry ingredients like spaghetti sauce, broth, macaroni noodles and lean ground beef. This is a hearty dinner that the entire family loves.

Equipment

Large Skillet/Saute Pan

Cheese Grater

Ground Meat Chopper

Ingredients

▢ 1 pound lean ground beef (I use 93/7)
▢ 2 cloves garlic (minced or pressed)
▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
▢ 1 jar (24 oz) tomato basil garlic spaghetti sauce
▢ 1 box (16 oz) elbow macaroni
▢ 3 cups beef broth
▢ 1½ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
▢ 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions

In a large skillet or saute pan, over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef, garlic, and kosher salt until the beef is no longer pink. Drain the excess grease from the pan.
^{* It's best to use a larger skillet or sauté pan that has higher sides on it and a lid.}
1 pound lean ground beef, 2 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Add the spaghetti sauce, dry elbow macaroni, and beef broth to the pan. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
1 jar (24 oz) tomato basil garlic spaghetti sauce, 1 box (16 oz) elbow macaroni, 3 cups beef broth
Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan with a lid and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until the pasta is softened to your preference and the liquid is absorbed.
^{* Stir everything together 1-2 times during the simmer time to ensure that nothing is sticking and that the liquid gets evenly distributed again.}
Once thickened, and the liquid is absorbed, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the shredded cheese and heavy ream until combined and fully melted.
1½ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese, 1/2 cup heavy cream
Serve & enjoy!

Notes

Garlic : You can use any form of garlic like chopped garlic from a jar, garlic paste, or use 2 fresh garlic cloves that have been minced or pressed with a garlic press. Make sure that you read the package directions and use enough of it to equal 2 cloves garlic.

Lid During Simmer Time : I recommend covering the pot with a lid during the simmer time. This allows enough time for the pasta to soften without all the water evaporating during the simmer time (which is why might happen if it's no covered). Take the lid off about 2 times during the simmer time to stir everything together to ensure it is not burning and to redistribute the liquid.

Fresh Shredded Cheese : Use a box cheese grater to shred the cheese off of a block. I promise it makes such a big difference, tastes better, and melts smoother.

Beef Broth : Because this recipe is so simple I find that it's best to use full salted, regular beef broth.

Heavy Cream : There really are no substitutes for this. The cream provides this rich and thick texture and really make this hamburger mac and cheese amazing.

Serving Size : If you are feeding kids (and not teens) then you can easily get 8 servings from this recipe. The nutrition facts are for 6 large servings.

Nutrition

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