CHEESY BEEF MACARONI

 Is there one type of pre-packaged food that you avoid and refuse to eat?

Mine is Hamburger Helper. I have always thought it looks disgusting and un-appetizing. To combat all of those things my other half, AU LOVES it. Gross, I know.

Cheesy Beef Macaroni is my homemade solution to a healthier and real version of Hamburger Helper.

And my solution to keeping my other half happy.

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 If there is one thing I truly love, its macaroni and cheese. And yes, I love a lot of food, hence my blog name…

A homemade macaroni and cheese is my go to for really good food and something that isn’t like the worst thing in the world for you. The creamy cheese sauce that I insist on using a ton of doesn’t exactly help but it’s better than the fake cheese powder mac n cheese. I stick to reduced fat cheese and skim milk in my homestyle macaroni and cheese (good enough right?).

But wait, something else I have loved since a child is that fake powder mac n cheese. I might be slightly hypocritical with refusing to eat Hamburger Helper and then scarfing down a box of fake macaroni and cheese. I do try to limit those rectangular boxes in my pantry. They are just so easy and delish.

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Back to this post, this cheesy beef macaroni is the best of both worlds. It resembles a homemade macaroni and cheese with real shredded cheddar (YES) and skim milk that creates this super creamy cheese sauce that is a lot lighter than a regular mac and cheese sauce. And there is of course a protein included in this macaroni.

I served this with a side salad to ramp up the healthiness. Other ways to lighten up the meal is to use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of beef. That substitution is easy enough and tastes just as great. To lighten it up even further I did use 2% reduced fat cheddar cheese, you can’t even taste the difference and you still get sharp flavors from the sharp cheddar itself.

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Adding spices to this macaroni elevate the flavor and taste. Oregano, parsley, garlic powder, chili powder, and paprika are the key. It no longer feels like a cheesy beef macaroni but a sophisticated sharp cheddar pasta. I know that seems like the same thing but honestly the spices keep it refreshing and give that added flavor to the whole dish.

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The sodium decrease in this version compared to the normal version is enough to make you never buy that creepy little hand Hamburger Helper again.

CHEESY BEEF MACARONI

Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/4 cup sweet yellow onion chopped finely
  • 1 tablespoon butter yoghurt butter
  • 2 cups skim milk
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups whole wheat elbow macaroni noodles
  • 3/4 teaspoon oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoon parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese 2% milk reduced fat, shredded
  • S&P

Instructions

  • First cook the meat on medium until all crumbled and heated through. Toss in chopped onion and saute until they become slightly translucent. Drain the grease and fat.
  • Cover meat in butter, milk, water, macaroni, sugar, the spices, and S&P to taste. Mix and let the mixture start to bubble. Once it begins to boil, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes covered.
  • Take it off the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar. Mix well and let it sit for a few minutes to thicken up.
  • Taste it and add any more S&P if needed.

Notes

Adapted from Divas Can Cook
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I still refuse to try Hamburger Helper, going on 24 years without touching it and planning to keep it that way.

I’ll just make this instead.

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creamy Cheesy Beef Macaroni, a homemade and healthier version of Hamburger Helper

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