Burger Mac Cheese Special Sauce (Print Version)

Creamy mac and cheese, seasoned beef, and tangy special sauce combine in a comforting, hearty fusion favorite.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 400 grams (14 ounces) elbow macaroni

→ Cheese Sauce

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
04 - 500 milliliters (2 cups) whole milk
05 - 250 grams (2 cups) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
06 - 60 grams (½ cup) mozzarella cheese, shredded
07 - 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
08 - ½ teaspoon salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Burger Beef

10 - 450 grams (1 pound) ground beef (80/20 blend)
11 - 1 small onion, finely diced
12 - 1 tablespoon ketchup
13 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
14 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
15 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
16 - ½ teaspoon salt
17 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Special Sauce

18 - 80 milliliters (⅓ cup) mayonnaise
19 - 1½ tablespoons ketchup
20 - 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
21 - 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
22 - ½ teaspoon white wine vinegar
23 - ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
24 - ¼ teaspoon onion powder
25 - Pinch of smoked paprika

→ Optional Toppings

26 - 2 tablespoons chopped pickles
27 - 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
28 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

# Directions:

01 - Cook macaroni in salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
02 - Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, cooking until slightly thickened (about 3 minutes). Reduce heat to low, add cheddar, mozzarella, mustard, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth.
03 - In a skillet over medium-high heat, sauté diced onion until softened (about 2 minutes). Add ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Stir in ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook until beef is browned and cooked through (about 6 minutes). Drain excess fat as needed.
04 - Combine the drained macaroni with the prepared cheese sauce in the saucepan. Mix thoroughly.
05 - Fold the cooked burger beef into the mac and cheese mixture, reserving a portion for garnish if desired.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk together all special sauce ingredients until smooth and well combined.
07 - Spoon the burger mac and cheese into a large serving dish. Drizzle the special sauce in a decorative swirl pattern over the top. Garnish with optional chopped pickles, green onions, and toasted sesame seeds.
08 - Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in under an hour for a complete meal
  • Uses simple pantry and refrigerator staples
  • Combines two beloved comfort foods in one dish
  • Customizable with various toppings and substitutions
02 -
  • High in protein with 32g per serving
  • Can be made ahead and reheated beautifully
  • Perfect for feeding a crowd on a budget
  • Freezes well for up to 3 months
03 -
  • The key to perfectly creamy cheese sauce is adding the cheese off the heat. If the mixture gets too hot, the proteins can separate, resulting in a grainy texture.
  • Freshly grated cheese melts much better than pre-shredded varieties, which contain anti-caking agents that can affect the smoothness of your sauce.
  • For a crispier top, transfer the assembled dish to a baking dish, sprinkle with additional cheese and panko breadcrumbs, then broil for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.

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