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Taco Mac

June 26, 2009 By Kate 11 Comments

I really like one dish skillet meals. They’re easy, quick and yummy. And they remind me of those Hamburger Helper meals I used to love back in the day. (Yes, I’ve come a long way in the kitchen.)

I used to make dishes like this by boiling the noodles separately. Then I gleaned some wisdom from my friend Sonshine and realized I could boil the noodles in the skillet if I added more liquid, just like those Hamburger Helper meals. It works great!

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Taco Mac

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1 T. chili powder
  • 1 T. cumin
  • 2 t. garlic powder
  • 1 t. salt
  • 1/2 lb. elbow macaroni
  • 1 1/2 c. beef stock or broth
  • 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 14.5 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 c. frozen corn
  • 1 c. shredded cheese

1. Brown ground beef and onion. Drain. Stir in seasonings.

2. Add noodles, stock, tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes to the skillet. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low. Cover skillet and simmer, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender, about 15 – 20 minutes.

3. Stir in corn until heated through. Top with cheese and serve.

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Cheeseburger Macaroni

November 22, 2008 By Kate 10 Comments

Back in the days when we were eating convenience and packaged food, I was guilty of being a huge Hamburger Helper fan. My favorite was the Cheeseburger Macaroni. It took me a few years to duplicate it just right, but now I no longer miss Hamburger Helper at all! This is the recipe I use whenever I’m craving that comfort food.

Cheeseburger Macaroni

  • 1 lb. ground beef or turkey
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • salt
  • 1/4 c. flour
  • 2 c. milk
  • 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 T. ketchup
  • 1 T. mustard
  • 1 T. fresh parsley, minced, or 1 t. dried parsley flakes, crumbled
  • salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 lb. cooked elbow macaroni noodles

1. Place ground meat and onions in a large skillet and season with salt, to taste. Brown meat. Do NOT drain fat.
2. Add flour, stir to incorporate, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in milk, bring to a boil over medium heat, and thicken. Reduce heat to low and stir in cheese. Continue stirring until cheese is fully melted.
3. Stir in ketchup, mustard, and salt & pepper to the sauce. Add noodles and combine well. Serve and enjoy!

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