Cheeseburger Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated Mar. 21, 2019
20121016-macaroni-and-cheese-variations-cheeseburger.jpg
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Note: Ro*Tel tomatoes can be found in most supermarkets in the tomato section, or ordered online from Amazon. If you can't find them, substitute 1 (14-ounce) can of diced tomatoes and 1 (3 1/2-ounce) can of diced chilies.

Recipe Facts

5

(1)

Active: 30 mins
Total: 30 mins
Serves: 4 servings

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Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

  • 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk

  • 2 large eggs

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil

  • 1 pound ground chuck

  • 4 scallions, finely sliced, whites and greens reserved separately

  • 1 (14-ounce) can Ro*Tel tomatoes (see note)

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 pound dry elbow macaroni

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 4 ounces grated American cheese

  • 8 ounces grated cheddar cheese

Directions

  1. Combine cornstarch, evaporated milk, and eggs in a small bowl and whisk until homogenous. Set aside.

  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add beef and cook, breaking it up, until no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Add scallion whites and cook, stirring, until softened, about 1 minute. Add Ro*Tel tomaotes, stir to combine, season to taste with salt and pepper, and set aside.

  3. Cook pasta in a large stock pot in salted water according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking water. Return to stock pot and add cooking water, butter, evaporated milk mixture, and both cheeses. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted and pasta is creamy and smooth. Stir in beef mixture. Transfer to a serving bowl, top with scallion greens, and serve immediately.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
937 Calories
63g Fat
38g Carbs
55g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 937
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 63g 80%
Saturated Fat 31g 155%
Cholesterol 297mg 99%
Sodium 1278mg 56%
Total Carbohydrate 38g 14%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 55g
Vitamin C 18mg 91%
Calcium 1103mg 85%
Iron 5mg 26%
Potassium 1080mg 23%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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