Steakhouse Macaroni and Cheese

Why we love this recipe

First, imagine a bowl full of dreamy, creamy macaroni and cheese. Got it in your mind?

Okay, now stir in some bite-sized pieces of tender juicy steak, and because creamed spinach is a steakhouse fave, swirl in some baby spinach until it is just the right amount of gently wilted into your glorious macaroni and cheese and steak conglomeration.

It’s an ingredient and flavor combo that makes you want to slap your forehead and think, WHY OH WHY didn’t I think of this before (if you are me that is ).

It’s also a full meal in a bowl, what with the veggies and the steak and the pasta all lovingly stirred together.

AND, it’s so easy to toss together while also being kinda fancy! Which in my book makes it a perfect dinner party or celebration main course. Have I convinced you yet? Let’s make it!

Ingredients needed to make this recipe

Ingredient notes and substitutions

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to make this recipe

Step 1: Cook your pasta according to package directions until tender in boiling salted water. Add some baby spinach to the pasta about one minute before the pasta cooking time is done and stir until it is nice and wilted. Drain the pasta and spinach together and set aside.

Step 2: While the pasta is cooking, cook the steak: heat some canola oil in a large skillet over high heat.  Cook the steak until it is done to your liking (about 4 minutes per side for medium rare) and remove it to a cutting board. Let it rest while you make the cheese sauce.

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Step 3: Heat some butter in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it is bubbly and foaming. Add some flour and whisk to combine, about one minute. Whisking constantly, pour in some milk.

Bring your milk mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until it is thickened to about the consistency of heavy cream, whisking occasionally.

Step 4: Take the sauce off the heat and stir in some shredded Cheddar cheese and one teaspoon salt until the cheese is fully melted.

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Step 5: Add the cooked pasta and spinach and stir over medium low heat until heated through, about three to five minutes.

Step 6: While the pasta is warming, slice the steak into bite-sized pieces.

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Step 7: Stir the steak into the mac and cheese. Ladle into warm dishes and watch the faces light up in happiness.

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Recipe FAQs

Want to round out your meal?

This all in one pasta recipe is a meal in a bowl all by itself, but we wouldn’t say no to some cream cheese stuffed biscuits on the side.

And for dessert, how about some easy no bake rum balls and a mint hot chocolate ice cream float?

Other macaroni and cheese recipes we love

Looking for more pasta inspiration? Here is our complete collection of pasta recipes!

And we all lived happily ever after, our tummies filled with decadent macaroni with steak!

We would love you to leave a review!

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! ) and your thoughts in the Comments section below.

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Steakhouse Macaroni and Cheese

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This easy recipe for steakhouse macaroni and cheese stirs steakhouse ingredients into everyone’s favorite pasta supper!

• Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 8
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 9 ounces baby spinach
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 pound high quality steak (tenderloin, sirloin, etc)
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 5 cups milk
• 16 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

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Instructions

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions until tender in boiling salted water. Add the spinach to the pasta about 1 minute before the pasta cooking time is done and stir until wilted. Drain the pasta and spinach together and set aside.
2. While the pasta is cooking, cook the steak: heat canola oil in a large skillet over high heat. Cook the steak until it is done to your liking (about 4 minutes per side for medium rare) and remove it to a cutting board. Let it rest while you make the cheese sauce.
3. Heat butter in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until foaming. Add flour and whisk to combine, about one minute. Whisking constantly, add milk.
4. Bring mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened to the consistency of heavy cream, whisking occasionally.
5. Take off heat and stir in cheese and one teaspoon salt until cheese is fully melted. Add pasta and stir over medium low heat until heated through, 3-5 minutes.
6. While the pasta is warming, slice the steak into bite-sized pieces and stir into the mac and cheese.
7. Ladle into dishes and watch the faces light up in happiness.

Notes

• • Short Pasta: Elbow macaroni, penne or any other short pasta will work.

• • Baby Spinach: Using baby spinach means you don’t have to spend time chopping up the bigger leaves into bite-sized pieces.

• • Steak: We splurge on tenderloin, but any tender cut will do, including sirloin and hanger steak.

• • Milk: You can use whole milk or low fat, but not skim.

• • Shredded Cheddar Cheese: The kind that comes pre-shredded in the bag is just fine…or you can shred your own!