Cheeseburger Mac

Kick that Hamburger Helper to the side and make a healthier, tastier version from scratch. Many home cooks and food enthusiasts find it easier to prepare a meal from a box. I mean, hey, all you need is to add water and there you are. But what’s the bigger price you’re paying for convenience? Your overall health and that of your family’s. I don’t really think that’s the best trade off. There is an uprising of health videos, programs, diets and channels bringing the very same news, healthier is better. So, let’s take this family favorite to the next level. You’ll be glad you did.

*Great Tips: Using Ziploc Snack bags, prepackage you seasoning mixture for your serving size. This way, all you have to do, is pull from storage you “Cheeseburger Mac Seasoning Pack” and go.

Another tip, make a huge batch and divide portions into freezer bags. Label and freeze for easy reheating.

What's better than mac and cheese or burgers? Both of them, put together in one delicious meal. Follow the recipe below and start tasting the difference!

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Cheeseburger Mac Recipe

Recipe by: Chef Aneva Walker

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 25 Min

Servings: 6-8

INGREDIENTS

½ lb Ground Beef/Meat

1 t Oil

2 C Pasta

1 t Salt

1 qt Water (For Boiling Pasta)

1 T Paprika

1 T Chili Powder

2 t Onion Powder

1 t Garlic Powder

1 t Black Pepper

¼ t Red Pepper

2 t Mustard Powder

1 T Dijon Mustard

2 Cloves Garlic, minced

1 Stalk Green Onion, chopped (Optional)

8 oz Can Diced Tomatoes

1 Sm Bunch Parsley, Chopped

1 C Milk or Half & Half

1 ½ C Velvetta, chopped (About 12 oz)

1 C Cheddar Cheese, chopped or shredded

Directions

In a pan on medium-high heat, add oil. Once the pan is hot, add in the ground meat, using a spoon or spatula to break into smaller pieces. Cook meat and set aside. In a pot, add water and salt and bring to a rolling boil. Add in pasta and cook until tender. When pasta is cooked, strain and set aside. In another pot on medium-low heat, add in milk, tomatoes, cheeses, spices and aromatics. (Don’t Boil!) Stirring constantly, allow mixture to come together and thicken. Be mindful that mixture will thicken more once cooled. When cheese mixture is smooth, taste for seasoning and adjust accordingly. Finally, add in pasta and meat and remove from heat. Garnish with more parsley and serve.

Aromatics: Green Onion, Parsley, Garlic

Tips: Do not boil milk mixture when making cheese sauce, it will cause mixture to split and will ruin dish. This happens when milk solids and liquids separate from each other and appear to be curdled.

Taste mixture throughout cooking process and adjust seasonings to best fit your taste buds.

The amounts will change varying on how many people you are cooking for.