This is a delicious comfort dish in a skillet that will make the whole family happy. Combining a classic mac and cheese with savory taco flavors is a recipe for happiness. Give our tasty Beefy Taco Mac and Cheese a try tonight.
I really had a good time exploring the world of macaroni and cheese and we have mad a few different recipes. Check out our traditional mac and cheese recipe or take a look at our exploration of the history of Macaroni and Cheese. We even made a gouda themed mac. It is such a versatile dish.
Pushing my taste buds a bit beyond a traditional recipe is always fun and today we are exploring some comfort food. I am going to make a macaroni and cheese recipe that would make twelve-year-old me proud. There is some serious comfort food flavors and rich tastes in this Beefy Taco Mac and Cheese.
The Tastebuds of My Memory
As a young adult, Hamburger Helper was like a food group for me. Somewhere in adulthood, I realized that I can make similar dishes that are way tastier and not that much more expensive.
And yes, within the past 5 years, I have bought one just to see if I still liked it. The memory of flavor, for me, is pretty powerful. Did I like Hamburger Helper as a grown-up in a grown-up kitchen? Not really. Years of mostly cooking fresh food must have had an impact on my taste. This recipe, however, is awesome.
Still, the memory of those flavors stick with me. Our Beefy Taco Mac and Cheese is an attempt to capture some of those flavor memories in a tastier way.
While a person could adapt the recipe below to also cook it in the oven, I am going to keep this a skillet meal. This is the way I remember it, so this is the way I am going to cook it.
Beefy Taco Mac Recipe Tips
- Consider using out homemade taco seasining recipe.
- I keep this as a skillet dish, but it could be modified to also add some extra cheese to the top and bake for a bit.
- I used a cast iron skillet for this recioe.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Beefy Taco Mac and Cheese
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 25 Minutes
- Total Time: 30 Minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Beefy Taco Mac & Cheese recipe is going to delight your taste buds and bring you back to home cooking memories.
Ingredients
- 1 pound 80/20 Ground Beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2 cups dry macaroni
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup crushed nacho chips
Instructions
- Brown ground beef and add taco seasoning as directed on package in large skillet
- Set ground beef aside
- While ground beef is cooking, cook macaroni as directed on package
- Also while ground beef is cooking, in a large saucepan melt butter on low.
- When butter is fully melted, slowly start sprinkling flour in the pan and continuously mix. The idea is that the mixture of flour and butter will form almost a paste.
- Pour in just a little of the milk and whisk until smooth. Keep on repeating until all milk is blended in.
- Turn heat to medium-high and continuously stir. We want to get the sauce just to boiling and thicken.
- When the sauce starts to heat up, you will notice it start to thicken. Just continue to stir and once boiling, continue stirring for one minute.
- Remove from direct heat and slowly add 2 cups of the cheese to the bechamel while stirring.
- Once this is a smooth sauce, add cheese sauce and macaroni to large skillet with ground beef and mix.
- Serve and add crushed nacho chips to top.
Notes
- Consider using out homemade taco seasining recipe.
- I keep this as a skillet dish, but it could be modified to also add some extra cheese to the top and bake for a bit.
- I used a cast iron skillet for this recioe.
Tatiana
Never tried this combination before in my life but i can really see myself making this on a weekend!
Sabine
Ben, you kill me! I would love to dig into this pan right now. Lucky me, that I found this recipe just in time for Friday night dinner snacking time with my husband. Great recipe!