This easy Mac and Cheese Hamburger Helper is a skillet macaroni and cheese recipe made in a cast iron skillet. Enjoy this creamy three cheese mac and cheese recipe for an easy dinner tonight. It's so tasty!
Love mac and cheese? Our Spicy Chicken Mac n Cheese and Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Balls are also great options. If you have an Instant Pot, this Taco Cheesy Pasta is another great choice.
Table of contents
- Can you eat mac and cheese after wisdom teeth removal?
- How to make mac and cheese in iron skillet
- Hamburger Helper Beef Pasta Instructions
- How to clean a cast iron pan
- Are there any mac and cheese festivals?
- Mac and cheese origin
- Cast iron mac and cheese variations
- Storing Mac and Cheese Hamburger Helper Leftovers and Meal Prep
- Recipe
- More Easy Recipes to Make
Can you eat mac and cheese after wisdom teeth removal?
This dish is very soft in texture, so you could eat this after wisdom teeth removal. Just make sure that you dice up the beef pretty small, or opt to leave it out.
My daughter had her wisdom teeth removed and this seemed to be a great recipe to use, and she got some carbs, and protein in one dish.
How to make mac and cheese in iron skillet
Shred cheese with a grater. This cheese grater is especially handy because you don't have to worry about accidentally cutting your finger on the grater. It's a spiral grater and very easy to use.
Hamburger Helper Beef Pasta Instructions
The first step is cooking your ground beef. You will want to chop it up, and allow it to cook. Once the beef is no longer pink drain off your grease.
Add in your broth along with the garlic, onion, and dry pasta. You will mix up all the seasoning and simmer.
Allow the pasta and beef to cook, stirring occasionally. After about 15 minutes check to see if pasta is becoming tender.
Stir in the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and cook until melted. Once done serve up this cheesy homemade hamburger mac and cheese with ground beef.
How to clean a cast iron pan
When you finish this cast iron skillet mac and cheese, save the leftovers in an airtight container.
Then, add hot water to the hot pan, and use a spoon to scrape off any excess food that is stuck in the pan.
Once the pan is removed from the food, dump out and then rinse without soap and a non-abrasive sponge.
Rinse clean, and then immediately dry the pan. Otherwise, it will begin to rust. Brush with oil all over and let the pan sit!
How to season a cast iron skillet
If you need to re-season your cast iron just know it is easy to do. First start by washing your cast iron skillet.
To wash a cast iron skillet, avoid using dish soap. Scrub with coarse salt to dislodge any stuck on food.
Then pat the skillet dry to ensure no water is standing. You need to do this to prevent the pan from rusting. Then reach for oil to rub all over your pan.
Place in the oven to season the cast iron. I do 375 degree temperature to season cast iron for 1 hour. Then turn off the oven and let the cast iron sit in the oven until it cools.
I recommend using a vegetable or canola oil as the best oil to season cast iron.
Can you season cast iron with coconut oil?
You can reseason a cast iron with coconut oil or even lard. Feel free to grab a paper towel and rub the whole pan down.
Are there any mac and cheese festivals?
Depending on where you live, you might find that your local area has a mac and cheese festival. One popular one is the mac and cheese fest!
A festival where you can learn about cheese, try all varieties of cheese, and of course nibble on mac and cheese! This is so fun to go and experience if you ever get to.
Mac and cheese origin
The origin of mac and cheese is unknown. They assume that it hails from in Northern Europe, all the way back in 1769.
Thomas Jefferson is linked to making it popular in the United States.
Kraft Foods came out with boxed macaroni and cheese when America was experiencing the Great Depression. We all are familiar with the easy cheese sauce in an easy box of mac and cheese.
You might have even had a cheeseburger macaroni using Kraft mac and cheese. Mac and Cheese Hamburger Helper is an easy and frugal recipe. It's perfect when you need to stretch a budget.
Cast iron mac and cheese variations
- Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese | Whip up a tasty pasta dish with pepper jack cheese. So yum!
- Sriracha Mac and Cheese
- Gluten Free Hamburger Helper Mac | Use gluten free macaroni noodles and cook it in beef broth for extra flavoring.
- Queso Mac and Cheese | Make a tasty macaroni cheese recipe in cast iron cookware, top it with some bread crumbs and then finish it up in the oven with some extra queso on top.
- Mac and Cheese with Tomato Sauce | Another yummy twist on traditional mac and cheese recipes.
Storing Mac and Cheese Hamburger Helper Leftovers and Meal Prep
You will want to store your leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator. You can reheat in the microwave or warm it up on the stovetop.
If you heat it up on the stove, make sure to add a splash of milk to thin it out if you need.
Then use leftovers for quick lunches for the week, or a quick dinner idea.
This one pot hamburger helper cheesy mac is just what you need. It comes together quickly and there is no need to even heat to boiling like you'd normally cook macaroni noodles.
Recipe
One Pot Mac and Cheese Hamburger Helper
Easy on the budget, easy to make, and extremely filling, this one pot twist on a classic is about as good as it gets! Whether you are in a hurry or just looking for some good comfort food on a cold winter’s night, this recipe will definitely hit the spot. The addition of the green chilies gives this hamburger helper a “cowboy” style that can’t be beat. It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser wherever it’s served! You could even make this a mac and cheese cast iron Dutch oven recipe if you're fond of cooking with a Dutch oven.
Ingredients
Supplies
Hamburger Mac and Cheese
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 large white onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups dry elbow macaroni
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
- 4 ounce can hatch diced green chilies
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Heat a large cast iron skillet on medium high heat. Once the skillet reaches cooking temperature, add the 2 pounds of ground beef. Brown the ground beef and then drain the grease. Return the drained beef and skillet to heat.
- Add the beef broth to the ground beef and stir.
- Next, add the onion, garlic cloves, green chilies, dry elbow macaroni and seasoning and mix thoroughly.
- Cover the skillet and bring everything to a simmer for 12-15 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Once things have reduced and the macaroni is tender, reduce the heat to LOW and add the softened cream cheese and the shredded cheddar cheese to the skillet.
- Stir the hamburger helper until all of the cheese has melted and things are nice and creamy! Feel free to add more cheese until your desired easy cheeseburger macaroni skillet recipe consistency is achieved.
Notes
For additional flavoring, add sriracha sauce or even some tomato sauce at the end of the hamburger helper beef pasta instructions.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 533Total Fat 32gSaturated Fat 16gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 154mgSodium 942mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 44g
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