Cheeseburger Pasta Pot (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main ingredients
01 -
A handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves with tender stems, chopped up (plus extra for sprinkling, if you'd like)
02 -
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
03 -
4 ounces cream cheese
04 -
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 -
1 large onion, chopped into small pieces
06 -
1 tablespoon chili powder
07 -
Kosher salt
08 -
10 ounces of elbow macaroni
09 -
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (roughly 8 ounces)
10 -
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
11 -
1 pound ground beef with an 80/20 fat ratio
12 -
Fresh black pepper, ground
13 -
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
14 -
5 cups of chicken stock that’s low in sodium
15 -
2 tablespoons tomato paste
16 -
A dash of red pepper flakes if desired
# Instructions:
01 -
Warm up the vegetable oil in a big pot over medium-high heat. Toss in the chopped onion and stir it around now and then for 6 or 7 minutes until it softens. Add the minced garlic and let it cook while you stir for about a minute until it smells fragrant.
02 -
Mix in the chili powder, paprika, optional red pepper flakes, and about 1 teaspoon of kosher salt along with a few cracks of black pepper. Break up the ground beef as you add it to the pot, stirring occasionally. Let the beef cook until there’s no pink left, which takes about 6 or 7 minutes.
03 -
Add the Dijon mustard and tomato paste to the beef mixture, stirring well until everything’s evenly combined.
04 -
Pour in the chicken broth while sprinkling in 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Crank up the heat until it boils, then add the macaroni. Stir every so often and let everything simmer for 9 to 11 minutes until the pasta is cooked but still firm, and the liquid has thickened into a sauce.
05 -
Take the pot off the heat. Stir in both the shredded Cheddar cheese and cream cheese until everything’s nice and smooth. Gently mix in the chopped parsley and sprinkle a bit more on top for decoration if you’d like.
06 -
If you’ve got extra, scoop it into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It’ll stay good for about 5 days.
# Notes:
01 -
By cooking everything in one pot, cleanup becomes super simple, and prep work is minimal.
02 -
This dish is affordable, comforting, and great for a busy weekday dinner.