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Friday Night Cheeseburger Mac

BeefStove-TopDiner-Style

Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

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About

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!

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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.

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