Beefy Mac and Cheese: How to Make One-Pan Leftover Cheeseburger Mac

4.18
(
179
REVIEWS)
PREP:
5 minutes
TOTAL:
30 minutes
SERVES:
4
JUMP TO RECIPE

Mac and Cheese and Cheeseburgers. These are the two meals my son is CONSTANTLY asking me for! So I HAD to combine the two and make a cheeseburger mac and cheese recipe.

The other night I grabbed leftover cheeseburger from the fridge, and incorporated them into an easy one pan mac and cheese recipe that makes the perfect weeknight meal!

Put a spin on the classic cac and cheese with a beefy twist. Say goodbye to piles of dishes because this delicious family meal only needs one pot. Who can say no to that?

When you have hungry children, they typically want comfort foods like mac and cheese and cheeseburgers. After my son had been begging for these for a while, I thought, why not blend the two and make one super recipe?

I grabbed what I had in the kitchen and made this easy one-pan beefy mac and cheese recipe. It’s so quick and simple it makes the perfect meal for a weeknight.

I based this recipe on two recipes I consider some of my staple favorites. I used my One Pan Mac and Cheese with Broccoli and burger recipes. However, if you have a favorite burger recipe, you can use it instead; any burger recipe will do so long as it was made the night before.

I’ve based this one pan mac and cheese from two of my favorite recipes.

My One Pan Mac and Cheese with Broccoli, along with my burger recipe. But this will work with any burger. Just as long as its leftover!

One Pan Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese is SO MUCH better than the boxed version. Easy clean up, and easy to make and best of all - Made with leftovers!

Leftover Beefy Mac and Cheese: What You Need

This beefy mac and cheese recipe couldn’t be simpler, but that doesn’t mean you must stick to it 100%. Feel free to experiment with the ingredients to make it your own. However, to make my recipe, this is what you’ll absolutely need:

  • Milk
  • Salt and pepper
  • Cheese (cheddar, preferably, but any sharp cheese will do)
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Leftover cheeseburgers (don’t worry if it still has cheese on it – it’ll still work!)

You’re not done yet! Here’s where you can get more creative by adding extra ingredients you have around the kitchen. Add some bacon; if you have leftover grilled onion, add that too.

One Pan Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese is SO MUCH better than the boxed version. Easy clean up, and easy to make and best of all - Made with leftovers!

Why No Roux?

If you’ve scanned my cheeseburger mac and cheese recipe, you may wonder why it doesn’t call for you to make a roux when making the cheese sauce. While I was creating this recipe, I had these thoughts.

To thicken a homemade spaghetti sauce, you add the starchy water from cooking the pasta, right? Well, in this recipe, we’re not cooking the pasta. This way, the starch will already be in the dish, and you’ll get a nice thick cheese sauce.

This recipe is perfect to get your kids involved as it’s all cooked in one pan. You’ll find they’re more eager to eat something they had a hand in making.

ONE PAN: Leftover Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 530kcal
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups shell pasta
  • 3 cups whole milk 1 cup separated
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 2 cups cheese
  • 3 patties leftover cheeseburger chopped into 1 inch pieces

Instructions

  • In a pan over medium heat bring elbow macaroni, 2 cups milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to a boil, stirring occasionally; about 7-10 minutes until almost all of the milk is gone
  • Stir in cheese and another cup of milk, bringing to a boil, stirring occasionally. Lower to a simmer after 5 minutes.
  • Stir in leftover cheeseburger and let simmer for 2-3 minutes, until the burger is heated up, stirring occasionally. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 530kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 1015mg | Potassium: 418mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 863IU | Calcium: 625mg | Iron: 1mg
Derek Campanile
Derek Campanile
I'm an IT professional by day. Home cook for the family by night. Follow my blog for easy to make recipes, how-to's and ideas to gather the family at the dinner table!