Cheesy Beef Macaroni Bake (Print Version)
Creamy macaroni, seasoned beef, and cheese come together, oven-baked until bubbly and golden for pure comfort.
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
500 g elbow macaroni
02 -
500 g ground beef
03 -
1 tablespoon olive oil
04 -
1 small onion, finely chopped
05 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
06 -
1 teaspoon salt
07 -
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
08 -
1 teaspoon paprika
09 -
1 teaspoon garlic powder
10 -
0.5 teaspoon Italian seasoning
11 -
2 tablespoons butter
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2 tablespoons flour
13 -
625 ml milk
14 -
200 g shredded cheddar cheese
15 -
100 g shredded mozzarella cheese
16 -
50 g cooked bacon bits
17 -
Chopped parsley, for garnish
# Instructions:
01 -
Set oven temperature to 180°C and allow to fully preheat.
02 -
Cook elbow macaroni in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
03 -
Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened. Stir in minced garlic and ground beef, cooking until beef is browned. Season with salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Remove from heat.
04 -
In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour in milk, whisking constantly until the sauce begins to thicken. Add cheddar cheese and half of the mozzarella, stirring until smooth and fully melted.
05 -
In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked macaroni, beef mixture, cheese sauce, and cooked bacon bits. Mix until contents are well coated.
06 -
Transfer mixture to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
07 -
Place baking dish in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until surface is golden and cheese is bubbling.
08 -
Remove from oven and allow to rest for several minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
# Notes:
01 -
For optimal texture, avoid overcooking the macaroni during boiling as it will cook further while baking.