This delicious, incredibly cheesy dish is another one of our favorite weeknight dinners. It’s beefy, hearty and whips up in less than 20 minutes. Hope you love this one as much as we do!
Start with one pound of lean hamburger meat, browned and drained.
Add a package of taco seasoning.
And one can of this. The good stuff.
You don’t even have to bother to drain it!
Gosh, I really like Rotel.
Add two cups of beef broth.
(You can also just use water if you want.)
And one cup of elbow macaroni. You’ll be glad you did.
By the way, I’ve tried other shapes of pasta in this recipe, and none of them seem to work as well as good old macaroni. Gotta love it.
Stir to combine, and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 12-14 minutes until the macaroni is tender.
Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then add 2 tablespoons of flour.
Whisk to combine, and continue to cook, whisking until the roux is fragrant and light brown in color, about 5 minutes.
Whisk in 3/4 cup of milk.
And bring the sauce to a boil. Whisk until smooth and thickened.
Remove the saucepan from the heat, and add 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
Whisk until melted. Heaven help me.
Now one last step for the sauce, this stuff needs some seasoning! Add 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper. I love this seasoned salt and pepper.
Here’s what your hamburger and noodles should look like after 12-14 minutes. Don’t worry if there’s still some beef broth in there. You may want to taste test a noodle for doneness at this point.
If you like it, go ahead and pour in the cheese sauce and stir gently to combine.
Glorious! Beef. Cheese. Rotel. Taco seasoning. Does it get any better than this? Enjoy!
Cheeseburger Macaroni
1 lb lean hamburger meat
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies (or petite diced tomatoes)
2 cups beef broth (or water)
1 cup elbow macaroni
Brown and drain hamburger meat. Stir in taco seasoning, Rotel, beef broth, and macaroni. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and cover pan. Simmer 12-14 mins until macaroni is tender.
Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce….
2 Tablespoons butter
2 tbsp flour
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Melt the butter in a saucepan. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking for 5 minutes until fragrant and light brown in color. Whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. Whisk until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Add the salt and pepper to the cheese sauce. Pour the cheese sauce over the hamburger mixture. Stir gently to combine.
Serves 4.
Nutrition Facts for this recipe can be found at CalorieCount.com.
Make for: Dinner / Main Dish
Tags: 30 Minutes or Less, beef, cheese, pasta, Quick and Easy
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202 Comments
can we substitute the lean hamburger meat with minced meat? If yes, we dont have to add any other spices it?
Made this for dinner and it was awesome!
Thank you for another great recipe! I was apprehensive to make this one, but my husband convinced me it looked good. I am so glad he did! This was soooo good!
Thank you for this recipe! I made this using Daiya cheese. My children have never had hamburger helper due to a food allergy and they LOVED this! I think it is so much better than Hamburger Helper. Thank you again.
Just found this recipe posted on Pinterest and I had to try it. I changed it alittle, since we dont eat alot of red meat, I used chicken instead. I cut up a single chicken breast into small cubes and cooked it with a bit of EVOO and then followed the rest using chicken broth instead of beef broth. It was great although a little bit spicier than I though it would be from previous comments. I wonder what I did to make it that way, maybe the taco seasoning I used. ??? Anyways, I loved it! My daughter is 2 and she’s a picky eater, even through the spicyness she instisted on eating bite after bite with a few sips of milk in between! I’ll definitally be trying this again. TY!
Its funny Amanda that you made this because this is what I often make for my kids. They absolutely love it, only I add Sofrito to the meat which gives it this earthy,delicious flavor.
Awesomely good! I used velveeta instead- FAB!
Just happened to stumble upon this recipie and oh my gosh it’s amazing!!!! My family loved it! I might try using the original rotel next time, the mild was just a tad much for my toddler, but he ate it anyway! (:
Great website and a wonderful recipe! Made it for dinner tonight, once again!!
Thank you so much for this quick and easy recipe. I thought I had made a mistake when I tried to be smart and use evaporated milk, because my cheese sauce was really thick. When I mixed the sauce in with the beef mixture, it was still perfect. I stopped buying Hamburger Helper a while ago, even though no one seemed to dislike it but me. Now I have a superior substitute!
All I have to say is delish…..We made this for dinner and it was a huge hit. This is soo much better than hamburger helper. This is definitely going in the “LOVE IT” section of the recipe book. Thank you soo much for sharing. Christina
Oh my! The pictures look amazing! This is exactly the recipe for cheeseburger macaroni I’ve been looking for. Thanks so much.
I made this for my hubby and myself tonight and it was fantastic. Perfect instructions, easy to make, cheap to buy, and great tasting! I think if I were making this for kids I would use diced tomatoes instead of Rotel. Thanks for sharing. :-)
This looks so yummy! Quick question…Do I have to drain the tomatoes if use a 14.5 oz. can of diced tomatoes instead of the Rotel (which is 10 oz)? I have never had Rotel before and couldn’t find them in mild and I’m afraid it will be too spicy with the regular. Thank you so much!
I thought this was a bit spicy and thought it was much more of a taco macaroni versus cheeseburger macaroni. My family loved it though and it all went in one night!! I agree with one of the posters who thought it was better than Hamburger Helper….I told my husband it was a Hamburger Helper for adults!!
I made this last night for dinner and got mixed reviews. The first taste is delicious…then the heat hits you. My husband and my four year old were both gulping down milk to put out the fire :) Maybe next time I will skip the taco seasoning, the rotel, or the pepper. Those three combined were VERY spicy!
Found this on Pinterest and I’ve made it twice now. It’s great!
OH MY! This was fantastic! Thank you!
This was good. If you are cooking for a big family make this dinner stretch by using 3/4 lbs of lean ground beef, double the macaroni to 2 cups and double the liquid to 4 cups (I used half beef broth and half water). You really get more for less! And you won’t even miss the extra meat. Good for your pocketbook–good for your body. Thanks for this recipie.
Just wanted to say that i made this for my boyfriend and its now his favorite dish. I look forward to trying out new recipes from your fabulous blog!
Wow it’s like hamburger helper but a heck of a lot better! I made this and my family loved it!!
Soo yummy! I read it and made it right away! I have to agree with some others that it was a bit TOO spicy. IMO it was because of the 1/2 tsp of ground pepper. I thought it seemed a lot when I was adding it, but with all the rave reviews, I went for it. Next time, I will only use 1/8 tsp of the pepper, if any. (Maybe yours is never that spicy because you use the pepper seasoning which may be milder?) Either way, I will be making it again :) Great directions for the roux!
Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe. I made it tonight and loved it. I will definitely make this again in the future!
YUM!! Yer killin’ me. But in a good way, lol! I absolutely love your site, recipes, your sense of humor. A big thank you for sharing your goodies with us! :D
Man, I just don’t have the willpower to resist your recipes. (How in the world is it that you guys don’t weight 400 lbs?!?!)
I was wondering if you do 1 cup of macaroni by weight? I just scoop out 1 measurign cup from the box?
I meant *or scoop out one measuring cup from the box. Thanks!
Thanks for an amazing recipe! Just made this and will def make again! My husband loved it!
Wow, this looks great. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe. We loved it so much that we featured it in one of our recipe round-up blogs. You can check it out at http://www.kevinandamanda.com/recipes/dinner/cheeseburger-macaroni.html
Thanks again.
Thank you Thank you Thank you. I appreciate you posting this recipe online. I have linked it to my first Menu Plan Monday posting. I can’t wait to make this and prove to my son that Cheeseburgers and Mac belong together. :) He’s not even a picky eater just a PIB 11 year old.
Made this the night before last and yum. The cheese sauce finally worked for me (and trust me, I’ve been trying for a while to get one right without being gritty), so I’m super excited about that. My bf and I did both have seconds too :)
This recipe makes me feel so warm and nostalgic. It’s like its straight from my childhood!
I added this recipe to my blog!
Thanks again!
amelia
Been looking for a recipe for this forever! Thanks!
This was a huge hit! Me and my hubby will be making this again, and again…. Thanks so much for sharing! :)
I stumbled upon your website when I was on Google searching for a cheeseburger macaroni. I am so glad I gave this recipe a try, so delicious. My whole family loved it and I will definitely make it again.
Great recipe. I didn’t have taco seasoning handy, but found a recipe online. Great comfort food, and I too improved my roux prep with this recipe. Thanks Amanda! and thanks for the nutritional information. I needed that.
This was absolutely delicious! My family and I have made this many times, and we still can’t get enough of it. So stoked I “StumbledUpon” your website when I did. Your website has been the “go-to” for me whenever I’m stumped on what to make for dinner.
Thank you and many blessings to you and yours.
Sheila
This is amazing. I am a native Texan and can appreciate the spiciness of this recipe.Even mild Rotel can be a bit spicy if you aren’t use to it. I’d use a can of diced tomatoes to substitute if you don’t like a ton of heat. I would not skip out on making this cheese sauce. So much more delicious than making with gross velveeta and really doesn’t take that long at all. My only change is I add about 1/2 cup more pasta and also throw in some frozen corn for some sweetness. I used wagon wheel pasta to make it fun. This recipe is in heavy rotation and is a huge hit with my husband.
Just made this for dinner and it’s officially going in our recipe binder! So yummy with the perfect balance of spices. Thanks, Amanda!
Made this for supper tonight….best thing I’ve eaten in a LONG time!! Thanks for sharing your delicious recipe!! :)
I just made this today in London, U.K. and it was great! I threw in a small can of corn and served on tortilla chips with salsa and sour cream. YUMMY!!!
OMG!!! I made this today and it is DELICIOUS!!!!! I used to make my family boxed mac and cheese until I read the box as saw the ingredients. I just found your recipe. Thank you so much my family loved it!!!
I’ve tried several homemade cheeseburger macaroni recipes, but this is THE ONE. So easy and so delicious! Thank you for sharing- it will be a regular menu item now.
This is a great recipe. Third time making it and winner winner chicken dinner.
I know you posted this a long time ago, but I still wanted to comment. I made this last night for dinner and it was a huge hit. It was so easy and everyone loved it. I love recipes like this — one skillet and short cooking time. It makes it so much easier to make dinner after work. Thanks for a great recipe!
Someone asked for Hamburger Helper for a work potluck tomorrow and lo and behold I came across this recipe on Pinterest – Yay! A yummy way to substitute salty, preservative enriched, boxed food for a more fresh substitute. I made it with whole grain pasta and sodium free taco seasoning and low sodium beef broth to add to the healthy factor even more! Thanks for sharing this step-by-step
I hope you dont mind if i share your blog on my Facebook page. your food looks so yummy, and i cant wait to try this recipe, and a few other recipes for my pasta and Shrimp junkie hubby!
I made “Johnny Marzetti” all my life….and this is it WITH cheese. I always melted a slice of cheese onto each serving. I added at touch of brown sugar because I used ketsup and a can of tomatoes before we knew Rotel. That gives it more of a kick. This was everyone’s favorite at my house when the kids were little. Updated now..a new twist…thank you.
OMGz! I am eating it now. i followed your recipe, and it is absolutely delish! i dont like spicy foods, so i can honestly tell you, this is mild enough for the kiddies to enjoy too!! <3<3
Okay, I am SO GLAD I found this. We made it for dinner, and it was awesome. I used the taco seasoning recipe from Betty Crocker -1 T chili powder, 1/2 t salt, 1/4 t garlic powder – it was so good. I will absolutely use this again. Thanks for sharing the love, guys!
Want a really quick way to make this . . . I use a box of Velvetta Shells & Cheese or the Kraft Deluxe Mac & Cheese (elbows). I just use that cheese sauce instead of making my own. It is super quick. And I like to make my own “taco seasoning”. Try this with ground pork too. Thanks for the recipe for the homemade cheese sauce!! I am sure it is way more health than Velveeta :)
I just made this for my boyfriend and I to eat for supper this week and it’s AMAZING! I tasted the mixture before I added the cheese sauce and was a little worried it would be too spicy, but it had the perfect amount of spice after the cheese sauce was added! Thanks so much for this recipe, I’ve been feeling lately like I recycle the same recipes week after week for super, but this is perfect to change things up!
I made this tonight for dinner, with homemade taco seasoning. Very tasty!
I also used ground turkey instead of ground beef.:)
Oh goodness! I totally forgot- I didn’t have Rotel, so I used a jar of mild salsa!
I’m just gonna give it a try tonight!! Thanks for sharing this magnificent dish!
Thank you so much for this recipe. It tastes exactly like my childhood and I was SO HAPPY when I ate it. It was just what my family needed tonight. Bravo!
Incidentally, though we live in Southern California, my husband is a die hard Auburn Tigers fan. He just approved of this dish even more!
I made this again tonight and we just LOVE it! I have passed it on to my sisters and their families love it too! I substituted regular diced tomatoes because that is what I had, homemade taco seasoning, skim milk, and gluten free pasta. It turned out great! Thanks so much for sharing!
For those still wondering- I used a regular size can of diced tomatoes for this. Probably about 14 ounces?
Whenever I try to make a roux, the butter and flour end up turning into a clump or ball in the bottom of the pan. I always follow the recipes exact and make sure the butter and flour are of even amounts as the other. What am I doing wrong? Is this the reason my roux may be gritty? Should I add more butter or less flour? I’d love to try this recipe but afraid of ruining the roux.
Is the macaroni pre-cooked or thrown straight into the meat and tomatoes uncooked, and then cooked in the broth or water while it all simmers together?
Your recipe rocks! It is sooooo delicious, and it went over quite well, with my niece, too!
I made this recipe tonight for my boyfriend and I, and safe to say it will become a regular at our house! We loved it! Comfort food at it’s finest.. and so quick and easy!
This was delicious! Very Flavorful! We are not fans of hamburger helper at all! This is way better! I was pleasantly surprised! :) It took us a while to get the sauce consistency right, my husband and I ended up using 1 cup of Silk Soy Milk and 1 1/4 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese and it was perfect for us! This is the first recipe I have tried from your blog but it won’t be the last!
Just had this tonight and it was a hit! .. Very tasty, will be making again!
I found you using StumbleUpon. Great site, great food, great pics. Thought I might let you know when your site comes up on StumbleUpon it only stays up for a second and then blanks out. I had to cut and paste your URL out of the extended StumbleUpon URL just so I could see your site. Not sure if there is anything you can do about it, just thought you’d want the heads up.
Looks way better than some boxed meal! I can’t wait to give this a try!
I’ve added this page to my StumbleUpon. :)
This is soo delicious, I made this a month ago, definitely a keeper (I used 96 % lean beef ) to make it healthier but it is sooo good!
My family absolutely LOOOOVES this recipe! Its just so yummy. I used white cheddar straight from Wisconsin once and it was too die for, so very yummy.