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A close-up of a spoonful of cheesy casserole. The dish contains cooked elbow macaroni, ground meat, and diced onions, all mixed together and covered in melted cheese. The background shows more of the casserole in the dish.

Easy Cheeseburger Macaroni Without the Box

This Cheeseburger Macaroni is the ultimate comfort food dish! It's made with ground chuck, tender pasta, shredded American and cheddar cheese, and classic burger toppings. It's like classic Hamburger Helper but with that made-from-scratch flavor. Ready in under an hour, this one-pot dish is a weeknight hero that tastes just like a cheeseburger!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 8 ounces elbow pasta
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 8 ounces American Cheese (shredded)
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
  • ½ cup onion (diced, plus extra for topping)
  • ¼ cup dill pickles (chopped)
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 ½ cups Water

Instructions
 

  • Add the hamburger to a medium bowl and add ½ teaspoon salt, pepper, baking soda and a tablespoon of water. Mix with your hands until combined and let sit for 15 minutes
  • In a large oven proof skillet with a lid, heat oil over medium high heat. When hot, add hamburger, breaking it apart. Cook until it is browned, about 6 minutes. Drain grease if needed.
  • To the skillet, add milk, and 1 ½ cups of water and uncooked pasta. Bring it to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook until pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes.
  • Add 1 ½ cups of American cheese, 1 ½ cups of cheddar cheese along with onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard, worcestershire and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook until the cheese has melted, about 2 minutes. Season to taste. Remove from heat and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
  • Place the oven rack 6 inches from the broiler and turn on the broiler function of your oven. Place the skillet under the broiler until the cheese starts to brown, about 1-2 minutes. Remove and let cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle additional chopped onions on top.
Barbara's Notes + Tips
  • If there is extra grease after browning the hamburger, drain it off before moving forward. 
  • American cheese is what gives this the distinct cheeseburger flavor and creamy texture. You can get it in block form at the deli in most grocery stores. 

Nutrition

Calories: 616kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 1614mg | Potassium: 542mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 846IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 746mg | Iron: 3mg
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