This mac and cheese is everything you crave in the perfect mac but with some hidden veggies and cheeseburger flavors!
One Pot Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese with Hidden Veggies
I struggle big time to get my 2 year old to eat veggies. I’m sure most parents can relate. This one pot mac and cheese is the perfect way to hide some veggies. This recipe calls for pureed cauliflower, but there are a ton of other ways to sneak veggies into this recipe (see below for options!). This mac and cheese is extra cheesy, extra creamy, and extra delicious. It literally tastes like a cheeseburger in mac and cheese form. How can you argue with those flavors?!
What will I need to make this one pot cheeseburger mac and cheese (see recipe below for entire ingredient list)?
3 cups chopped cauliflower
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef 90/10
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
16 oz dry pasta short like shells or elbows
2 cups milk more as needed
3 cups low sodium beef broth
2 tbsps ketchup
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
One Pot Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese with Hidden Veggies
My pasta keeps up soaking up all the liquid and won’t cook through! What do I do?!
As I was testing this recipe, I KEPT running into this problem. I had to add so much extra liquid than what I started with. This recipe’s ratio of liquid to pasta was perfect for me, but you may need more depending on a lot of things (shape of pasta, size of pasta, too high heat, etc.). Simply add more beef broth or milk as needed. Keep an eye on your mac and cheese. Stir it often, and if you see that it starts to soak up the liquid too quickly, turn down the heat, and just add more liquid. Remember that by adding more liquid, you may need more seasoning. Be sure to adjust your seasoning as you add more liquid.
What other veggies can I add to this mac and cheese?
This is where you can get super creative. We love to add chopped broccoli to ours. We will add it at the end when we add the cheese. Grated zucchini or pureed squash is another great option. Remember that squash will probably need to be cooked first, so keep that in mind if you decide to go with squash. These are just some of our favorite additions.
Are you looking for more pasta recipes on Cooking and Beer? Well, we have a ton of them! Check out some of my favorite pasta recipes!
Ingredients
- 3 cups chopped cauliflower
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef 90/10
- 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 16 oz dry pasta short like shells or elbows
- 2 cups milk more as needed
- 3 cups low sodium beef broth more as needed
- 2 tbsps ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- salt and black pepper
- parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine the cauliflower, 1/4 cup of water, and a dash of salt. Puree until completely smooth. Set aside.
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, salt, and pepper. Cook until the onions are soft and the beef is cooked through. Add the garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Cook for an additional minute. Add the pasta, milk, beef broth, ketchup and mustard. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. Stir the pasta frequently! Add more liquid (milk or broth) as needed. Turn the heat to low. Stir in the cauliflower, relish, and cheese and cook for an additional 5 minutes until melty and smooth.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!
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