At the end of a busy week, it is so great to come together with a great meal. And Friday Night Cheeseburger Mac isn’t just a great meal — it’s the perfect meal for bringing everyone together! Savory ground beef mingles with tender elbow macaroni in a rich, seasoned tomato sauce that tastes like your favorite childhood memories of home cooking. Blended together with sharp cheddar and cream cheese, Friday Night Cheeseburger Mac is a fork-full of comfort food that always makes the end of a week a whole lot brighter. Thank goodness for Fridays!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- crushed red pepper flakes, optional, to taste
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 5 cups low-sodium chicken stock or broth
- 10 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems, chopped, plus more, optional, to taste, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –In a large pot over medium-high heat, add the vegetable oil.
Step 2 –Add the onion to the heated vegetable oil and cook, while stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6-7 minutes.
Step 3 –Add the garlic to the onion mixture and cook, while stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 4 –Add the chili powder, the paprika, the red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and the black pepper to the onion mixture and stir to combine.
Step 5 –Add the ground beef to the onion mixture and cook, while crumbling the meat, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 6 –Add the tomato paste and the Dijon mustard to the ground beef mixture and stir until combined.
Step 7 –Add the chicken stock and the remaining salt to the ground beef mixture and stir to combine.
Step 8 –Bring the ground beef mixture to a boil and allow it to boil until the flavors meld together, about 6-7 minutes.
Step 9 –Add the elbow macaroni to the ground beef mixture and cook, while stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and the pasta is al dente, about 9-11 minutes.
Step 10 –Transfer the pasta mixture from the stovetop to a wire rack.
Step 11 –Add the cheddar cheese and the cream cheese and stir to combine.
Step 12 –Add 1 cup of the parsley to the pasta mixture and fold to combine.
Step 13 –Serve garnished with the extra parsley.
