Description
Creamy mac and cheese meets savory seasoned beef in this 30-minute casserole that’s packed with comforting flavor and topped with a crispy, golden breadcrumb crust.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the beef mixture:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- For the mac and cheese:
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 3 cups shredded cheese blend (2 cups cheddar + 1 cup monterey jack)
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt to taste
- For the topping:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Boil a large pot of salted water.
- Cook elbow macaroni 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain but don’t rinse.
- In a skillet, brown beef over medium-high heat. Add onions halfway through cooking, then garlic. Cook until beef is browned and onions are soft.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce, oregano, basil, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- In a saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour. Cook 1 minute, then slowly whisk in milk. Simmer until thickened, 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheese gradually. Add mustard powder, cayenne (if using), and salt to taste.
- Combine pasta, beef mixture, and cheese sauce in a bowl or the pasta pot. Mix well.
- In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs, melted butter, parmesan, and parsley.
- Transfer pasta to the baking dish. Top with breadcrumb mixture. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Cook pasta al dente to avoid mushiness. Use freshly grated cheese for the smoothest sauce. Customize with vegetables like spinach or peppers for added nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 85mg