Let's start with a favorite~

This one has proven to be a favorite of MANY!!

It is a great go to for a quick meal,

and it's also easy to freeze.

Cheeseburger Macaroni

Serves 5-6
Total time 25 minutes


What you'll need:
1 LB Elbow Macaroni
1 LB Ground Sirloin
1 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 bag of shredded Mexican or Cheddar Jack Cheese
1 cup Milk
1 T Butter
2 T Flour
2 T Salt (for pasta water)
1 t Salt (for cheese sauce)
1 t Salt (for ground beef)
1 t Garlic Powder
2 T Ketchup
1 T Yellow Mustard
1 T Worcestershire Sauce
10 grinds pepper


You will only need 1 large pan and 1 medium pot for this….if you use more than that, then you will be cleaning too many dishes.  Also, you will need one colander, 1 plastic mixing spoon/spatula.

Fill a large pot with water, cover and bring to a boil.  Place the pan over a medium- high heat, drizzle in olive oil, and place ground beef in pan to brown, breaking up the meat.
While browning meat, add salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  By this point, water in pot should be boiling, add salt then add macaroni, giving the macaroni a stir every so often to ensure it doesn’t stick.  After you start the macaroni and the meat is cooked, , drain the meat, lower the heat on the pan to low, then return the meat to the pan.

Add the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire and stir to combine.  Shut off heat under pan once everything is combined.

After about 8-9 minutes, the macaroni should be al dente.  Drain, then leave macaroni in the colander.  Lower the heat on the now empty pot to medium low, add the butter to melt it.  Once the butter is melted, slowly sprinkle the flour in making sure to incorporate each bit before adding more, it will make a paste-like consistency.
Slowly add milk, stirring to combine, bring to a slow simmer.  Once sauce is slightly thickened and fully combined, add 1 bag of cheese, stir to melt cheese.  Once cheese is melted (you may need to raise the heat to medium), stir together meat, macaroni and cheese sauce. Enjoy!


 ***This is a great recipe to freeze.  Make sure to store in an oven safe container, and when you reheat, do so after you let it sit for at least 20 minutes on the counter.

Heat in the oven at 350 degrees covered for 40 minutes - 1 hour if still frozen, and if it's not cold, 30 minutes or until it's heated through.