cheeseburger mac and cheese
fast, easy, and delicious
Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese
I know I’ve mentioned, many, many times, that my daughter is an incredibly fussy eater. She’s actually fussy about almost everything. Her room. Her bathroom. Her clothes. Her beauty products.
Basically, she likes what she likes, and doesn’t want it any other way. I should have known I was in for trouble when I found her fluffing the pillows on her bedroom couch late one night. They had to be just so. She wasn’t even three.
For the most part, I don’t mind her fussy nature. I admire how she just instantly knows what she wants. But when it comes to dinner, it gets tough. Especially, when time is an issue which it often is during the week.
When we need dinner in a hurry, I try to find something I know isn’t going to cause a fuss.
Mac and cheese is an easy go-to for us, and luckily it is one of Stella’s favorites. I try to make homemade whenever possible, but sometimes the box wins.
Horizon Organic is Stella’s favorite, and yes she does know the difference without even looking at the box.
To make it a meal that Charlie also enjoys, he’s a carnivore through and through, I made him cheeseburger mac and cheese.
It was a hit with even the hubby, who I found nibbling on the leftovers as a midnight snack.
While the water for the mac and cheese boiled, I browned some lean ground beef (ground turkey would be delicious as well) added ketchup, because what is a cheeseburger without the ketchup, chopped up some tomatoes and pickles for the topping, and by the time the macaroni was done, we were ready to eat.
Everyone got to top their mac and cheese with their favorite burger toppings, and dinner was done in less than 30 minutes.
Even better than that, not a single complaint at the dinner table.
Ingredients
- 2 boxes Horizon Organic Classic Mac and Cheese (along the butter and milk to prepare according to package instructions)
- 3/4 pound lean ground beef
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- salt and pepper to taste
- Horizon Organic Shredded Cheddar Cheese, diced tomatoes and pickles for toppings
Instructions
- prepare the mac and cheese according to the package instructions
- while the water boils, brown the ground beef
- stir in the ketchup,and taste for seasoning
- top each bowl of mac and cheese with a scoop of ground beef
- add shredded cheese and your favorite burger toppings (we LOVE tomatoes and pickles)
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon Organics. The opinions and text are all mine.
What a fun way to switch up mac and cheese!!
thanks Stephanie, it was really SO good!
I hope I don’t end up with a fussy daughter 🙂 Stress! Love how you doctored up this boxed mac and cheese because yes boxes do win some days!
I hope you don’t either – some days it is not fun at all, but the mac and cheese I can work with 🙂
Such a genius idea! Pretty sure my son is going to love this!
thanks Krista, it’s about as kid friendly as it get’s 🙂
I have been trying to find a creative way to make a regular dish! We make Mac n’ cheese all the time, this would a great twist to that.
thanks! we really enjoyed it
I can totally relate, my daughter is 21 and is very particular about everything as well. I was rough when she was younger because at a young age she decided she would not eat meat. She became a vegetarian and I was a huge carnivore. I learned to make things that served double duty, lots of pasta like this where she could have meatless and we could have our meat version. She now eats beef, fish, and pork, so it’s a little easier. This would go over so well in our house. I love how hearty this looks, the photos are gorgeous.
thanks Kim! Stella is pretty much full on vegetarian, only there are SO few vegetables she actually likes, so we eat a LOT of pasta with salad. hoping it gets easier soon
I love this recipe Heather!! Mac and cheese is the bombdotcom.
thanks Dorothy! It is a lifesaver for us