Best 5 Meaty Mac N Cheese Recipes

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Are you craving a hearty and comforting dish that will satisfy your taste buds? Look no further than our comprehensive guide to making the ultimate meaty mac n cheese. This classic combination of pasta, cheese, and meat is transformed into a culinary masterpiece with the addition of succulent slow-cooked pulled pork, crispy bacon, and a secret blend of spices. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey as we take you through the steps of creating a mouthwatering mac n cheese that will become a family favorite.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

MEATY MACARONI AND CHEESE



Meaty Macaroni and Cheese image

Quickie meal that is loved by kids (and Dad's) alike. This isn't gourmet or fancy- just good ol' fix it fast and fill their bellies food! Kind of a copycat Hamburger Helper- but so much better! This is a 'base' recipe for the start of a healthier and fast meal that is kid and family friendly, budget friendly and uses things that are probably in your kitchen already. Perfect for those times you find your house FULL of hungry teens! Will feed four very easily- or one or two hungry teenagers! lol Posting bc yesterday my dd said "Mama, can we have Macaroni and hamburger meat tonite?" and Mama said "No baby, I have to fix a recipe I tagged on Zaar." to which she replied "Mama, you need to post that recipe on Zaar and tell everyone that kids like it- and Dad said "AND DADS TOO!" so this is for my family! Hope your family enjoys it too! and that is saves you some stress on a busy night! PLUS, this is a great carrier for those dreaded veggies when you find your kids (dads too) seem to turn their noses up to otherwise. HIDE those veggies in the cheese! lol Think peas, carrots, zucchini, etc NOTE: Instead of the box mix you can use my homemade recipe for mac and cheese recipe #135662

Provided by Mamas Kitchen Hope

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 20m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (7 ounce) box macaroni and cheese mix, use your favorite even homemade if you prefer
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter (best with real butter, do not use a spread or tub product) or 1/4 cup margarine (best with real butter, do not use a spread or tub product)
1/2 lb ground chicken (see note) or 1/2 lb ground turkey (see note)
1/2 cup onions, chopped or 2 teaspoons onion powder, adjust to taste
2 celery ribs, chopped
1/4 cup bell pepper, chopped (optional)
1 garlic cloves, minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Prepare mac and cheese according to box directions, using salted water.
  • Meanwhile, brown meat and drain grease.Rinse meat if desired to remove even more grease.
  • Season meat with onion and garlic- fresh and sauteed can be used instead- and add any additional seasonings that your family likes. SEE NOTE - skip if using left over meat- but do reheat the leftovers.
  • Add meat to prepared mac and cheese and season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
  • At this point you can add EXTRAS such as additional grated cheese, great opportunity to sneak in veggies - peas, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, etc., Use what you like or try this to entice kids to eat things they normally wouldn't.
  • I have even added some spinach to the meat mixing it in well so it is not as noticeable! Sometimes you have to be sneaky! hehehe.
  • NOTE: This is even faster when you use left over taco meat, sloppy joes, crumbled meatloaf, etc -- Add what your family likes.
  • No this isn't the healthiest meal- but it IS so much healthier for them than a greasy burger grabbed on the run, and you can make it as healthy as you choose- I have even used leftover homemade mac and cheese- No preservatives at all that way!
  • You can 'fancy' it up by topping it with extra cheese or breadcrumbs and popping it under the broiler for a minute just to brown.
  • A real time saving tip that the kids love is to put the entire mixture in a lightly sprayed casserole pan and top with biscuit dough- you can even use the ones in the can, bake per can instructions until the biscuits are done.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 428.3, Fat 22.3, SaturatedFat 11.6, Cholesterol 74.7, Sodium 540.7, Carbohydrate 37.8, Fiber 2.3, Sugar 6, Protein 19

MEATY MAC 'N' CHEESE



Meaty Mac 'n' Cheese image

My husband is disabled and requires constant care. This doesn't leave me a lot of time to cook, so I came up with this tasty way to beef up a box of macaroni and cheese. The hearty mixture gets extra flavor from corn, ripe olives and zippy salsa. -Charlotte Kremer, Pahrump, Nevada

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 20m

Yield 4-6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 package (7-1/4 ounces) macaroni and cheese
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1-1/2 cups salsa
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
3 tablespoons diced pimientos
Shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped tomato

Steps:

  • Set aside cheese sauce mix from macaroni and cheese; cook macaroni according to package directions. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the salsa, corn, olives and pimientos; cook until heated through. , Drain macaroni; add to beef mixture with contents of cheese sauce mix. Cook and stir until blended and heated through. Sprinkle with cheese and tomato.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 291 calories, Fat 10g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 42mg cholesterol, Sodium 716mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 20g protein.

MEATY MACARONI BAKE



Meaty Macaroni Bake image

We go to lots of rodeos. This is an ideal casserole to make in the morning and pop into the oven when we get home.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h

Yield 6-8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 17

1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 jar (14 ounces) spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup canola oil
1 package (7 ounces) elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
2 cans (4 ounces each) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup soft bread crumbs
Additional mozzarella cheese, optional

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Add the spaghetti sauce, water, tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes., In a large bowl, combine the eggs, oil, macaroni, mushrooms, cheeses and bread crumbs. Spoon into a 3-qt. baking dish. Top with meat mixture. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with additional mozzarella cheese if desired. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 441 calories, Fat 21g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 106mg cholesterol, Sodium 810mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 28g protein.

3-INGREDIENT MAC & CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY



3-ingredient Mac & Cheese Recipe by Tasty image

Nothing says comforting and classic like mac and cheese. Remember when you were a little kid and you sat down at the dinner table? There it was: a glorious pot of mac and cheese. Ooey, gooey, and oh-so-delightful. Well, we're taking you back there with our 3-ingredient mac-hack. That's right: only three ingredients to bliss. It's so good, you'll never go back to the boxed stuff!

Provided by Alvin Zhou

Categories     Sides

Time 15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 3

5 cups milk
1 lb elbow macaroni, dry
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • In a large pot, bring the milk to a boil.
  • Add the pasta and stir constantly until the pasta is cooked, about 10 minutes.
  • Turn off the heat, then add the cheddar. Stir until the cheese is melted and the pasta is evenly coated.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 803 calories, Carbohydrate 100 grams, Fat 27 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 37 grams, Sugar 18 grams

30-MINUTE MEATY MAC AND CHEESE SKILLET



30-Minute Meaty Mac and Cheese Skillet image

Make the most of your weeknight with our 30-Minute Meaty Mac and Cheese Skillet. Our 30-Minute Meaty Mac and Cheese Skillet includes ground beef, making it an amazing and hearty dish. Take half an hour to make your family something special this evening.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Time 30m

Yield 6 servings, 1 cup each

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 lb. ground beef
1 green pepper, cut into strips
1 small onion, sliced
1 pkg. (7.3 oz.) KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
1-3/4 cups water
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil spread
1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

Steps:

  • Brown meat with vegetables in large skillet; drain.
  • Stir in Macaroni and water. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on medium-low heat 5 to 7 min. or until macaroni is tender.
  • Add milk, vegetable oil spread, seasoning and Cheese Sauce Mix; cook and stir until macaroni mixture is heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 270, Fat 13 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Sodium 380 mg, Carbohydrate 26 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 4 g, Protein 11 g

Tips:

  • Use a good quality macaroni. A high-quality macaroni will hold its shape and texture better than a cheaper variety.
  • Cook the macaroni al dente. This means that the macaroni should be cooked until it is still slightly firm to the bite. Overcooked macaroni will become mushy and lose its texture.
  • Use a flavorful cheese sauce. The cheese sauce is the key to a great macaroni and cheese. Use a cheese sauce that is made with a variety of cheeses, such as cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan. You can also add other ingredients to the cheese sauce, such as bacon, ham, or vegetables.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment. There are many different ways to make macaroni and cheese. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and cooking methods until you find a recipe that you love.

Conclusion:

Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be easily customized to suit your own taste preferences. Whether you like it simple or loaded with toppings, macaroni and cheese is sure to satisfy your cravings. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give macaroni and cheese a try.

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