Cheeseburger Macaroni And Cheese

This fun recipe for cheeseburger macaroni and cheese is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser! Two great supper tastes in one bowl.

Oh, so much to say about cheeseburger macaroni and cheese!  Starting with the fact that it’s one of my very favorites in my ever-growing macaroni and cheese repertoire. 

As far as I am concerned, there will never be enough macaroni and cheese variations in the world, and I owe it to society to keep expanding the macaroni and cheese possibilities. 

And since the words “cheeseburger” and “macaroni and cheese” just seem to go together so well, it just seemed RIGHT. I mean, what could be better than a supper that has the word “cheese” in it twice?

I should start by saying the Southern husband was skeptical. 

And he’s hardly ever skeptical, so that gave me a little bit of pause with my whole scheme, which was to make a creamy mac and cheese with pieces of burger stirred in, and then to top it with stuff that cheeseburgers are topped with. 

He loves my classic creamy mac and cheese, and he loves burgers, so I figured I could just dish him up a serving without all the toppings. 

It would be a little boring, but I could do it.

But no, he valiantly said that he wanted to have the full cheeseburger macaroni and cheese experience, so he had his the same way I had mine – with the burger stirred in, but topped with a little chopped lettuce, some chopped cherry tomato and a dollop of dill pickle relish on top. 

And not only did he RAVE about it all through dinner….when I went looking in the fridge for the leftovers a few days later they were gone.  And there were some significant leftovers. 

I felt all smug and wonderful.  (I think it was the pickle relish that tipped him over the edge into pure cheeseburger macaroni and cheese happiness.)

Here’s how you make cheeseburger macaroni and cheese!

Cook some good old ground beef in a skillet over medium high heat until browned. Drain it and set it aside.

Next, melt a little butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add some flour and stir it all up until the flour and butter are combined well.

Pour in some milk, whisk-whisk-whisking until the mixture is smooth. Simmer is all up until it is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes.

Meanwhile, cook some elbow macaroni according to the package directions,  drain and return to pot. 

Turn off the heat under the sauce, whisk in cheese and stir until cheese is melted. Add pasta and stir until the pasta is coated in cheesy deliciousness.  Add the cooked beef and stir again.

Divide among bowls and garnish with lettuce, tomato and relish (or anything else you like on your cheeseburgers!). And serve at once (mainly because people are NOT going to want to wait!).

Now, none of this should be confused with my plans one day to make a macaroni and cheeseburger.  Yes.  I am relentless.