Also known as “chuckwagon mac,” this Kraft mac and cheese with ground beef is a hearty, quick, and easy dinner recipe that the entire family will love!
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If you’re looking for even more easy ground beef recipes, don’t miss the best spaghetti sauce recipe, a cheeseburger pie, this stuffed bell pepper casserole, and this classic beef chili recipe, too!
This recipe was a hit!! My hubby & I loved it & it’s definitely a “keeper”!! Thanks for sharing it…
– Tess
This meal comes straight from my mom’s recipe box and my childhood dinner table. Mom’s “chuckwagon mac” is an easy combination of Kraft Deluxe mac and cheese with ground beef and veggies in a flavorful tomato sauce. Best of all, the comfort food classic is 100% kid-and-husband-approved!
Video: How to Make Mac and Cheese with Hamburger
How to Make Ground Beef and Mac and Cheese
This Kraft Deluxe mac and cheese with hamburger comes together quickly on the stovetop, making it an ideal weeknight dinner! It’s basically a cheeseburger macaroni — with bonus veggies! You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- First, prepare the box of mac and cheese according to the package instructions. I always use Kraft Deluxe mac and cheese, but you can pick any similar brand that includes the pouch of creamy cheese (Velveeta Shells and Cheese is another good option). Just don’t use those boxes of mac and cheese that start with the powdered cheese packet — it won’t be the same!
- While the mac and cheese is cooking, you’ll have time to brown the ground beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic in a large skillet. Then drain the meat mixture and return it to the same pan.
- Next, stir in the tomato sauce, corn and diced tomatoes. Simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes, just to let it thicken slightly.
- Finally, add the cooked macaroni and cheese and toss everything together. Taste the mixture and season with salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish the hamburger macaroni with fresh herbs or sliced green onions and serve!
Serving Suggestions
The mac and cheese with ground beef is delicious alongside Jiffy cornbread with creamed corn, cranberry muffins, 2-ingredient pumpkin muffins with cake mix, Arkansas green beans, roasted broccoli, or a simple green salad dressed in buttermilk dressing.
I just wanted to say “Thank You” for this fantastic recipe! I made this tonight for dinner, and it was sooo good!
– Patti
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
Mac and Cheese with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced (about 1 cup total)
- 1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and diced (about 1 cup total)
- 1 large clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon total)
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15.25 ounce) can corn, drained
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can petite-diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (14 ounce) box Kraft Deluxe Mac and Cheese (or other similar boxed mac and cheese with the creamy cheese pouch)
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or other herbs or sliced green onions
Instructions
- Prepare the macaroni and cheese according to the package directions.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off the excess grease.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, corn, and diced tomatoes. Gently simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Add the cooked macaroni and cheese to the beef mixture; stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Garnish with chopped fresh herbs or sliced green onions; serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Possible Variations for Macaroni and Cheese with Ground Beef
- Substitute ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground sausage for the ground beef.
- Stir in other favorite vegetables. Steamed baby broccoli florets would be a great addition!
- Add other seasonings. For instance, give it an Italian twist with Italian seasoning, basil and oregano, and/or Italian sausage. Or, for a different flavor profile, turn it into chili mac with plenty of chili powder, paprika, cumin, and kidney beans. A Mexican-inspired dish would also be great — just add Rotel tomatoes and green chilies instead of the plain diced tomatoes, and season the mixture with taco seasoning.
More Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Recipes
Creamy Beef and Shells {One Pot!}
35 minutes mins
Hamburger Casserole with Noodles
40 minutes mins
One Pan Homemade Hamburger Helper
30 minutes mins
This post was originally published in January, 2016. It was updated in December, 2024.
This looks like the perfect way to jazz up regular mac ‘n cheese! I love the hearty ingredients in here! Definitely the perfect comfort food for the winter. I can see why you and your family love it so much!
Thanks, Gayle! Yep, it totally jazzes it up and makes it feel like an entirely different meal. 🙂
okay, i want to be part of your family. because i totally think this would be my new fav!
Come on over, Lindsay! You can bring Mr. Cotter, too! 🙂
This looks delicious and super comforting! Love the flavours! 🙂
Thanks, Jess! Total comfort food! 🙂
Oh my goodness. Must try for my family! I’m sure they’ll love it too.
Thanks, Melanie! Yep, this is a perfect family-friendly meal. Everyone seems to love it!
What an awesome dish! I love comfort foods like this!
Thanks, Annie! At this time of year, especially — cold weather makes me crave warm, hearty dishes like this one!
Dear Blair
I just wanted to say “Thank You” for this fantastic recipe! I made this tonight for dinner, and it was sooo good! I couldn’t find the White Cheddar Cheesy Deluxe, so I used the Organic White Cheddar. I am going to give some to my son for work. He’s been looking for a recipe that his father made, and this is definitely it(minus the hot sauce) I always look forward to your recipe of the day, and since I join, I have not been disappointed.
Thank You
Patti
Hi, Patti! Thank you so much for your kind note! I’m thrilled that this recipe was a hit, and I so appreciate your support. Thanks for reading along! 🙂
Hello I was wondering if you are using the Mac and Cheese with the powder mix or the box kind that comes with creamy cheese I have seen similar recipes that use the powder mix so I was just wondering what you use?
Thank you for any feed back that you could give me. God Bless and have a wonderful day. 🙂
P.S. Will rate once I make it.
Hi! I always use the mac and cheese with the creamy cheese packet (not the powdered version). Enjoy!
I’ve done the powder and then added Velveeta.
I really wasn’t sure, wow.. So good!! This was fast and easy family loved it. Your website has been a God sent for dinners….we don’t get home till late and I have these all planned ready to go and feel good about feeding healthy stuff to my family.
Thank you!!
I’m so happy to hear that, Laura! Thank you! 🙂
I’m going to give this recipe a try this week… I just bought the Macaroni & Cheese last night at the grocery store… and have all of the ingredients now to make this. A simple and tasty dish!! I’ll let you know how we liked it when I make it this week. 🙂 Thanks again for all your recipes.
Perfect! I’m so glad that you’ll give it a try, Tess. Enjoy, and thanks for reading the blog! 🙂
This recipe was a hit!! My hubby & I loved it & it’s definitely a “keeper”!! ::) Thanks for sharing it…
Thank you, Tess! I’m so glad that you both enjoyed it!
This looks delicious, I was going to make it for my grandkids then I read the ingredients. I live in Canada and we don’t have Kraft Deluxe or the Velveeta cheese ???? Any suggestions on what I can replace it with?
Hi, Donna! Do you have any other brands of store-bought creamy mac and cheese? Any should work! 🙂
Thanks for your prompt reply. I never really looked, I’m not a big fan of mac and cheese. I’ll check on my next shopping trip.
Perfect! I bet there’s a similar product, even if it’s made by a different brand. The key is to find one that includes the cheesy sauce packet — not the powdered cheese. 🙂
I’ve made this several times now. Yummy! I’m in Canada too, so I use 2 boxes of KD Sharp Cheddar. YES… it’s powered. Turns out perfectly.
Thanks for letting us know — glad that it works with the powdered mac and cheese! 🙂
Once all ingredients are cooked I put in a casserole dish and bake uncovered about 15-20 min. @ 350°…..just until the top browns. Extra work/dishes but good outcome.
Great tip, Fran! I’ve done that before as well. Definitely delicious!
Trying this tonight! First cool day of the season – I know my hubby and I will enjoy it, thank you! 🙂
Hope it was a hit, Miranda!
It definitely was a hit! 🙂 *Hubby approved! Thanks, again!
Yay!!
I am so excited! This was my mother’s signature dish as a child. But, she lost the recipe. I have been looking for it for years. Thank you for giving me my childhood back.
We’re so glad you found it and hope you enjoy, Kanessa!
Family loves it
We’re so happy to hear this! Thank you for trying it out, Cathie.
I needed a recipe for hamburger meat and found this one and luckily I had all the ingredients! It was delicious and my 5 yr old granddaughter loved it!!! It’s a meal in one! We adults liked it too!!!very easy to make and tastes so good. Thank you!
Yay! I’m so glad that it was a hit, Monica. Thank you!