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Baked Bacon Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese

Creamy baked mac and cheese loaded with ground beef, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar, bringing all the flavors of a bacon cheeseburger into one comforting casserole.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz elbow macaroni uncooked
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp mustard yellow or Dijon
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 0.5 cup breadcrumbs for topping
  • 2 tbsp parsley chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Baking dish

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and crumble.
  4. In the same skillet, sauté onion and garlic in bacon drippings until softened.
  5. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
  6. Stir in mustard and smoked paprika.
  7. In a saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour to form a roux.
  8. Slowly add milk, whisking until smooth and thickened.
  9. Stir in 2 ½ cups cheddar cheese until melted into a sauce.
  10. Combine pasta, beef mixture, and cheese sauce in a bowl. Mix well.
  11. Transfer mixture to baking dish, spread evenly.
  12. Top with remaining cheddar, bacon crumbles, and breadcrumbs.
  13. Bake 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
  14. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.

Notes

For a spicier kick, add jalapeños or hot sauce before baking.