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    Home » Recipes » Cheeseburger Macaroni

    Cheeseburger Macaroni

    Published: Oct 5, 2021 · Modified: Jun 5, 2022 by Tammy Overhoff

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Cheeseburger macaroni baked into a wholesome, comforting hamburger casserole. This ground beef casserole is the perfect lightened-up comfort food recipe.

    cheeseburger macaroni baked in the oven until hot and bubbly.

    There’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned mac and cheese when it comes to comfort food! Am I right? Now add some juicy hamburger to it, and OMG, we got cheeseburger macaroni! This macaroni bake is also called ground beef casserole, but whatever it’s called, trust me, you need this healthy comfort food recipe.

    Of course, homemade cheeseburger macaroni isn’t the first on the list of recipes we think of when trying to eat healthier clean foods. However, you don’t need to entirely right it off either.

    The key to fitting comforting casseroles into your healthy lifestyle is portion control and preparing it with more nutritious ingredients.

    Reasons you’ll love this recipe

    • Healthy comfort food. Clean wholesome ingredients are the stars in this classic cheesy casserole recipe.
    • Family-friendly. You won’t hear any complaints when this cheeseburger macaroni is on the menu!
    • Feed a crowd. Make this easy and delicious cheeseburger mac for your next party!
    • Make-ahead. Make on Sunday for dinner during the week or freeze for an easy dinner later on. This hamburger casserole is also a great freezer meal to give a new mom.

    Ingredients

    ingredients to make cheeseburger macaroni
    • Ground beef. I use a lean 90/10 organic ground beef for this recipe.
    • Hamburger Seasoning. Hamburger spice gives the meat a “hamburger” flavor. You can find this spice blend in the grocery stores with other spices. 
    • Granulated garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. These spices add another layer of flavor.
    • Worcestershire Sauce. One of my favorite ingredients when making ground beef recipes to enhance the flavor. 
    • Whole grain elbow macaroni or shells. Any short pasta will work in this recipe.
    • Butter and flour. This is for making the roux to thicken the sauce for the casserole.
    • Milk and chicken stock. To reduce calories, I use 1% milk and chicken stock. You can also use unsweetened coconut milk for a dairy-free substitute, and beef broth or any stock will work.
    • Shredded cheddar cheese and grated Romano. What’s a cheeseburger without cheese? We love sharp cheddar cheese in this recipe for creaminess, and the romano adds a little more cheesy flavor.
    a bowl of creamy hamburger casserole

    Cooking Tips

    • Only cook the pasta for 5 minutes. The pasta will still have a bite to it but, don’t worry, it will cook as it bakes in the sauce.
    • Any short pasta will work fine. I’ve used everything from shells, corkscrew, elbows, fusilli, and bow ties. Use whatever you want.
    • You can make this gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta, tapioca flour, and gluten-free spices. 
    • I’ve made this with gluten-free pasta before, and it turned out great.
    • If you don’t want to use dairy milk, then unsweetened coconut milk works great. I haven’t made this with vegan cheese, but if you try it, let me know.
    • Sharp cheddar works perfectly in this recipe but experiment with all of your favorite cheeses.
    • Speaking of cheese, if you have time, shred your cheese. I know it’s easier to purchase bags of shredded cheddar, and I do more often than not, but shredding sharp cheddar fresh brings this dish over the top.

    Healthy Substitutions

    • In my experience, the higher quality of the meat, the better your recipe will be. For the beef, I used 90% lean organic ground beef. I’ve also made this with ground turkey – this brings the saturated fat content way down. However, my family prefers beef in this recipe, so I use lean organic grass-fed beef.
    • Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free flour and pasta. Also, make sure to check all of the other ingredients to ensure there is no cross-contamination.
    • You can use low-fat cheese. I use whole-fat shredded cheese because it melts better and is healthier because low-fat cheese is filled with fillers and junk. However, if you want to cut calories and fat, you can use light cheese. 

    Serving Suggestions

    This cheeseburger macaroni bake recipe makes about 8 (1 1/4 cup) servings. I know that might not seem like a lot per serving, especially when you want to eat the whole pan but, trust me, it’s plenty. 

    You can also bulk up your plate with some of these healthy vegetable side dishes:

    • Roasted asparagus
    • Roasted broccoli
    • Roasted carrots
    • Green or Caesar salad

    Shop the recipe

    • 5 1/2 Quart Dutch Oven
    • Large skillet
    • Whisk 
    • 9 x 13 Ceramic Casserole Dish

    My Favorite Dutch Oven!

    How to Make the Cheeseburger Macaroni

    step by step collage showing how to make cheeseburger macaroni bake
    • Bring to a boil a large pot of salted water. Add the macaroni and cook for 5 minutes. The macaroni will still have a bite to it. Drain and place into a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Set aside.
    • In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat. Break the meat into small pieces as it cooks when there’s a little bit of pink left; stir in the hamburger seasoning, granulated garlic, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. 
    • Place the cooked seasoned ground beef into the casserole dish with the macaroni.
    a second collage showing the last 6 steps to making this hamburger casserole bake.
    • Use the same pot that you used to make the macaroni to make the sauce. Start by melting the butter over low heat.
    • Quickly whisk in the flour until it forms a paste, and then whisk in the chicken stock and milk.
    • Stir in the granulated garlic, onion, and black pepper.
    • Cook sauce over medium until it becomes bubbly and starts to thicken. This can take 10 minutes; whisk every few minutes so the flour or milk doesn’t stick and burn at the bottom. 
    • Once the sauce begins to bubble (not boil), remove from heat and slowly stir in cheddar and romano cheese. 
    • Taste for salt. Add 1/2 teaspoon at a time until you get the desired flavor.
    • Add the sauce into the casserole dish with the pasta and beef and stir until pasta and beef coats with sauce.
    • Cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes.
    • Let sit for about 5 minutes and then serve.
    overhead view of the cheeseburger macaroni

    Storage tips

    To meal prep for the week

    • Bake it entirely ahead of time and then store it in the refrigerator to enjoy. Reheat in the microwave on the night you eat it. I prefer using glass meal prep containers because it helps keep this recipe fresh longer. 
    • Assemble the ingredients ahead of time (without baking), cover the casserole, and store in the refrigerator until you want to bake it during the week. I recommend baking within a couple of days of preparing the ingredients. Keep in mind; you might need to add on a little more cooking time because the recipe will be cold.
    • Prepare components of the recipe ahead of time. For example, you can cook the beef and pasta in advance. Then on the day you’re going to eat, all you need to do is cook the sauce, put it together, and bake. 

    To freeze

    • Bake the hamburger casserole and freeze it into portions for quick lunches or dinners. Store in glass containers or use a silicone tray (like Souper Cubes) to freeze into individual portions. Reheat in the microwave using a microwave-safe dish
    • Assemble the ingredients into a casserole dish or disposable dish, cover with foil, and freeze. Place the casserole into refrigerate to thaw for 1-2 days before continuing with the recipe. You will probably need to add extra cooking time if the cheeseburger macaroni bake still seems a little frozen. 
    • Freeze casserole components separately. For example, cook the ground beef and sauce and place them into bags or containers and freeze. Thaw in the microwave or on the stove, make the pasta, assemble the casserole, and bake.

    For more tips, see my tutorial on freezing casseroles.

    Overhead picture of two bowls of cheeseburger macaroni

    Other Healthy Casseroles

    • Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese
    • Chicken Broccoli Bake
    • Healthy Baked Ziti
    • Quinoa Broccoli Bake
    • Cajun Chicken Quinoa Bake
    cheeseburger macaroni

    Cheeseburger Macaroni

    Cheeseburger macaroni baked into a wholesome, comforting hamburger casserole. This ground beef casserole is the perfect lightened-up comfort food recipe.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner, dinner recipe
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cheeseburger macaroni, ground beef casserole, hamburger casserole
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 563kcal
    Author: Tammy Overhoff

    Equipment

    • 5 1/2 quart dutch oven
    • Whisk
    • 9 x 13 casserole dish

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb whole grain elbow macaroni or shells

    For the ground beef

    • 1 lb 90% lean ground beef
    • 1 teaspoon hamburger seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper

    For the sauce

    • 1 tablespoon butter salted or unsalted
    • 1/4 cup flour can use gluten-free
    • 3 cups 1% milk
    • 2 cups chicken stock
    • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • 4 cups shredded cheddar
    • 1/2 cup grated romano cheese
    • salt as needed

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    • Bring to a boil a large pot of salted water. Add the macaroni and cook for 5 minutes. The macaroni will still have a bite to it.
    • Drain the pasta and place it into a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Set aside.
    • In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat. Break the meat into small pieces as it cooks when there's a little bit of pink left; stir in the hamburger seasoning, granulated garlic, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. 
    • Place the cooked seasoned ground beef into the casserole dish with the macaroni.
    • Use the same pot that you used to make the macaroni to make the sauce. Start by melting the butter over low heat.
    • Quickly whisk in the flour until it forms a paste, and then whisk in the chicken stock and milk.
    • Stir in the granulated garlic, onion, and black pepper. Cook sauce over medium until it becomes bubbly and starts to thicken. This can take 10 minutes; whisk every few minutes so the flour or milk doesn't stick and burn at the bottom. 
    • Once the sauce begins to bubble (not boil), remove from heat and slowly stir in cheddar and romano cheese. Taste for salt. Add 1/2 teaspoon at a time until you get the desired flavor.
    • Add the sauce into the casserole dish with the pasta and beef and stir until pasta and beef is coated with sauce.
    • Cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes.
    • Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes.Let sit for about 5 minutes and then serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Serving size is 1 and 1/4 cups
    Storage tips
    To meal prep for the week
    • Bake it entirely ahead of time and then store it in the refrigerator to enjoy. Reheat in the microwave on the night you eat it. I prefer using glass meal prep containers because it helps keep this recipe fresh longer. 
    • Assemble the ingredients ahead of time (without baking), cover the casserole, and store in the refrigerator until you want to bake it during the week. I recommend baking within a couple of days of preparing the ingredients. Keep in mind; you might need to add on a little more cooking time because the recipe will be cold.
    • Prepare components of the recipe ahead of time. For example, you can cook the beef and pasta in advance. Then on the day you’re going to eat, all you need to do is cook the sauce, put it together, and bake. 
    To freeze
    • Bake the hamburger casserole and freeze it into portions for quick lunches or dinners. Store in glass containers or use a silicone tray (like Souper Cubes) to freeze into individual portions. Reheat in the microwave using a microwave-safe dish
    • Assemble the ingredients into a casserole dish or disposable dish, cover with foil, and freeze. Place the casserole into refrigerate to thaw for 1-2 days before continuing with the recipe. You will probably need to add extra cooking time if the cheeseburger macaroni bake still seems a little frozen. 
    • Freeze casserole components separately. For example, cook the ground beef and sauce and place them into bags or containers and freeze. Thaw in the microwave or on the stove, make the pasta, assemble the casserole, and bake.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 563kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 901mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6g

    Did you make this recipe?

    Have you tried this Cheeseburger Macaroni? If so, I’d love for you to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. We all learn from each other’s experiences. Also, it would be awesome if you could share a picture on Instagram and tag it #organizeyourselfskinny. I can’t wait to see it!

    Sharing is caring!

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    Dinner Recipes, Healthy Beef Recipes, Healthy Casserole Recipes, Healthy Pasta Recipes, Recipes

    About Tammy Overhoff

    Hi, I’m Tammy Overhoff, a busy mom, wife, and entrepreneur. I am the owner, author, and recipe developer here at Organize Yourself Skinny. Since 2011 Organize Yourself Skinny has become a trusted resource for clean eating recipes to meal prep, reviews, and lifestyle hacks to help you fit healthy habits and routines into your busy schedule. Check out my online shop Reset & Flourish for all of my eBooks, Guides, and Bundles!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura Smith says

      May 29, 2024 at 8:23 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great recipe! Thank you.

      Reply
      • Tammy Overhoff says

        June 13, 2024 at 7:04 am

        Awesome thank you so much!

        Reply
    2. Heather says

      January 17, 2024 at 10:40 pm

      Can I add puréed veggies to the sauce? Would I need to make adjustments to the liquids in any way? The grandchild will not eat them so I’m trying to send over some start small meals.

      Reply
      • Tammy Overhoff says

        January 27, 2024 at 4:50 am

        That’s a great question. I haven’t done that before. I suggest stirring it in after it cooks. That’s what I would try.

        Reply
    3. Keri Mager says

      May 02, 2023 at 12:00 pm

      5 stars
      LOVED this one!

      Reply
    4. Amy says

      July 12, 2021 at 8:59 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for my daughter who is in active labor right now.
      It was simple and delicious.
      I mixed hamburger and turkey, used a quinoa elbow macaroni and made my own hamburger spice. This is one of 7 I meals, I think they are going to love it.

      Reply
      • Tammy Kresge says

        July 14, 2021 at 9:06 am

        That’s wonderful to hear!! And it’s good to know it worked out with gluten-free macaroni.

        Reply
    5. Kristen says

      May 09, 2021 at 10:24 pm

      What is “hamburger seasoning”?

      Reply
      • Tammy Kresge says

        May 11, 2021 at 10:36 am

        Hi there. McCormick makes a seasoning called hamburger Seasoning. You can find it with the other seasonings.

        Reply
    6. Michaela Austill says

      March 02, 2021 at 5:43 pm

      Why does it have to bake an hour?

      Reply
    7. Krista DiBartolomeo says

      January 01, 2021 at 3:31 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe but i’m having a hard time with the roux being clumpy! I melt the right amount of butter and add the flour but it doesn’t turn into a paste, it gets dry and clumpy. What am I doing wrong?

      Reply
    8. Jordan says

      October 08, 2020 at 3:52 pm

      Do you have updated WW points for this recipe?

      Reply
      • Tammy Kresge says

        October 12, 2020 at 1:58 pm

        Hey there, unfortunately I’m not adding weight watchers points anymore. I don’t follow the program and it’s too much work to try to keep up with their changes. Sorry.

        Reply
    9. Katelyn says

      August 10, 2020 at 3:13 pm

      To freeze this, do I bake it all the way through and then freeze or assemble it all together and freeze before baking?

      Reply
      • Tammy Kresge says

        September 08, 2020 at 10:33 am

        You can do both.

        Reply

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