Description
Hearty mac and cheese sloppy joes blend comfort classics into one irresistible dish. Melted cheese, seasoned ground beef, and zesty sauce create a delicious meal perfect for family dinners you won’t want to miss.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) tomato sauce or ketchup
- 1 ½ cups (200 g) elbow macaroni or small pasta
- ½ cup (75 g) diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder (optional)
- 4–6 burger buns, toasted
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Pickles
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Crumble ground beef in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat, cooking until deeply browned and completely separated.
- Flavor Foundation: Drain excess fat, then sauté finely chopped onions until translucent, adding minced garlic and toasting briefly to intensify aromatic qualities.
- Sauce Development: Introduce tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar, allowing the mixture to caramelize while incorporating smoked paprika, salt, and freshly ground pepper.
- Simmering Stage: Reduce heat and let the sauce gently simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and enable flavor melding, concentrating the mixture to a thick, clingy consistency.
- Cheese Integration: Fold shredded cheddar and cream cheese into the reduced sauce, creating a luxurious, creamy texture that envelops the seasoned beef.
- Bun Preparation: Warm and split hamburger buns, then generously ladle the cheesy beef mixture, ensuring each sandwich is abundantly covered.
- Serving Finale: Present immediately, allowing the warm, decadent filling to deliver a rich, comforting culinary experience that promises to delight taste buds.
Notes
- Meat Selection Matters: Choose lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10) to minimize excess grease and prevent soggy sloppy joes.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Remove skillet from heat when adding cheese to prevent separation and achieve smooth, creamy texture.
- Moisture Control: Simmer sauce uncovered to reduce liquid and concentrate flavors, creating a rich, clingy consistency.
- Bun Preparation Tip: Lightly toast buns on a griddle or skillet with butter for added crunch and prevent sogginess from meat mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg