Meaty Mac N Cheese Recipes

MEATY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare mac and cheese according to box directions, using salted water.
• Meanwhile, brown meat and drain grease.Rinse meat if desired to remove even more grease.
• Season meat with onion and garlic- fresh and sauteed can be used instead- and add any additional seasonings that your family likes. SEE NOTE - skip if using left over meat- but do reheat the leftovers.
• Add meat to prepared mac and cheese and season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
• At this point you can add EXTRAS such as additional grated cheese, great opportunity to sneak in veggies - peas, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, etc., Use what you like or try this to entice kids to eat things they normally wouldn't.
• I have even added some spinach to the meat mixing it in well so it is not as noticeable! Sometimes you have to be sneaky! hehehe.
• NOTE: This is even faster when you use left over taco meat, sloppy joes, crumbled meatloaf, etc -- Add what your family likes.
• No this isn't the healthiest meal- but it IS so much healthier for them than a greasy burger grabbed on the run, and you can make it as healthy as you choose- I have even used leftover homemade mac and cheese- No preservatives at all that way!
• You can 'fancy' it up by topping it with extra cheese or breadcrumbs and popping it under the broiler for a minute just to brown.
• A real time saving tip that the kids love is to put the entire mixture in a lightly sprayed casserole pan and top with biscuit dough- you can even use the ones in the can, bake per can instructions until the biscuits are done.

MEATY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Pre-cook the pasta according to package instructions.
• Using a large skillet add a small amount of oil before adding diced onions. Saute onions until fragrant.
• Add ground beef, incorporate with the onions and cook thouroughly.
• Add seasoning: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, bouillon cube, and broth or water.
• Add pasta and mix well before adding cheeses. Incorporate cheeses with pasta and meat.
• Note: Add more liquid to the mixture if necessary.
• Serve or add to a casserole dish and top with additional cheese and bake in the oven until cheese melts.
• Enjoy!!!

BEEFY MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 3/4 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta. Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and chili powder and stir until brick red, about 2 minutes. Add the beef and cook, stirring, until browned, 4 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread the mixture in a 3-quart flameproof baking dish. Preheat the broiler. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a pot over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the milk and reserved cooking water, bring to a simmer and cook, whisking, until thick, 2 minutes. Add 2 cups cheese, the cooked pasta and 3/4 teaspoon salt and stir until the cheese melts. Spread over the beef mixture. Mix the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and the breadcrumbs; sprinkle over the pasta mixture and broil until golden. Top with the scallions.

MEATY MACARONI BAKE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Add the spaghetti sauce, water, tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes., In a large bowl, combine the eggs, oil, macaroni, mushrooms, cheeses and bread crumbs. Spoon into a 3-qt. baking dish. Top with meat mixture. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with additional mozzarella cheese if desired. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

MEATY MAC & CHEESE BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Coat 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. In nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef until no longer pink, 3-5 minutes; spoon off fat. Stir in sloppy joe sauce; cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Meanwhile, cook macaroni according to package directions, reserving sauce packets; drain. In bowl, whisk sauce packets with milk and eggs until smooth; stir in pasta and 1 cup cheese. Spread half of macaroni mixture in dish; top with Sloppy Joe mixture, then remaining macaroni. Cover; bake until bubbly, 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.