A recipe titled "One-Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni" seems like a recipe that I'd like. This is the third recipe I've tried over the years that is similar. And I gotta say, it's really not my jam. All the ingredients I like, but putting them all together? Not so much.
This recipe has a lot of steps, but it's all pretty easy. I cannot emphasize enough the instruction about adding the cheese to the milk/flour mixture on low heat. Low heat helps the cheese melt evenly and smoothly.
I also didn't use one pot...for some reason my brain missed that part of the title. Also, don't over salt anything. The cheeses add enough salt. I seasoned the beef, but that was it. It didn't need any additional salt.
One-Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni
Recipe from Taste and See
Serves 12
FOR THE MEAT MIXTURE:
1 T olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1½ pounds lean ground sirloin
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder (or hot chili powder if you like it spicier)
3 T tomato paste
FOR THE MAC AND CHEESE:
1 pound short pasta, such as elbow macaroni
3 c whole milk, warmed
3 T butter
¼ c flour
2 tsp mustard powder
8 ounces finely chopped American cheese (2 cups) *See Note
12 ounces grated extra sharp cheddar cheese (3 cups)
2 ounces grated Parmesan (1 cup)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Add olive oil, chopped onion, ground beef, and seasonings to a large pot and sauté until the meat is fully cooked and the onions are translucent. Thoroughly mix in tomato paste, sauté for 2 minutes, then transfer the meat mixture to a bowl and set aside.
Use the same pot to cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. While pasta is cooking, warm the milk in a separate pot.
Drain pasta once cooked, ***reserving at least 1 cup of the pasta water.***
Return the empty pot to the stove over medium heat and add butter. When butter melts and foams, add flour and whisk until darkened slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add mustard powder and whisk to combine.
Slowly whisk in the warm milk and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring consistently to prevent the flour from burning or overcooking, for about 3 – 4 minutes.
Reduce heat to low and add cheese in 3 batches, starting with American cheese. Whisk to fully combine, then follow with cheddar and Parmesan (whisk to fully combine after adding each cheese). Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
Fold the meat mixture into the cheese sauce, then fold in the pasta, and serve.
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