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    The Curry Mommy » Recipes

    30 Minute Mexican Cheeseburger Macaroni

    Published: Aug 28, 2018 · Modified: Sep 28, 2021 by The Curry Mommy · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Alternative Hamburger Helper Recipe for Vegetarian Cheeseburger Macaroni

    Pasta cooked in a broth with Rotel, ground protein or soy veggie grounds, and Mexican spices-what's not to love? This optional vegetarian cheeseburger macaroni dish is combined with a delicious made from scratch cheese sauce. This is my old school recipe for a made from scratch hamburger helper recipe.

    cheeseburger and pasta combined together with a cheese sauce

    Cheeseburger Macaroni

    This optional vegetarian cheeseburger macaroni pasta is a comforting and delicious meal for those days when you want to consume something filling. I love to add crushed pepper flakes to make it extra spicy! Give this 30 minute meal a try and let me know what you think.


    Ingredients

    • ground protein such as soy veggie grounds, turkey, beef, etc
    • Rotel
    • Taco Seasoning
    • Salt
    • Water or Broth
    • Butter
    • All Purpose Flour
    • Milk/Cream
    • Shredded Cheese
    • Oil
    • Red Chili Flakes (crushed pepper)

    Instructions

    • Ground Meat and Seasoning
      brown the protein in a pan with seasoning
    • diced tomato and chili
      Add Rotel
    • ground meat and seasoning
      Mix it together and cook for a few minutes
    • water with ground meat and rotel
      Add water or broth
    • pasta and water
      Mix in uncooked pasta and cook until soft
    • cheeseburger macaroni mexican mac and cheese
      Once the pasta is cooked, mix in the cheese sauce

    How to make the cheese sauce

    • butter with flour making a roux
      Melt the butter and then add all purpose flour
    • roux
      Whisk in the milk and let it come to a boil
    • a whisk with a roux
      Turn off the heat and mix in the shredded cheese until smooth
    • macaroni and cheese
      Add the cheese sauce to the cooked pasta
    • macaroni and cheese
      Mix and heat through. Serve!

    Love pasta? Check out these recipes!

    1. Mushroom Pasta
    2. Mexican Mac and Cheese
    3. Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese

    FAQ

    Can I cook the pasta separately?

    For this recipe, I do not recommend it. Cooking the protein with the pasta and water helps break it up which gives this recipe a great texture.

    Vegan cheese option

    I tried to make this recipe with Daiya cheese years ago. Once you have had the real deal, it won't taste the same unfortunately.

    Is there an alternative to taco seasoning

    There are plenty of variations to choose from when it comes to taco seasoning. You can use any brand or combination you have on hand.

    Gluten free pasta recommendation

    I love Jovial brand brown rice pasta or Trader Joe's brown rice pasta. In fact, that is mostly what I use and highly recommend it.


    mexican mac n cheese with protein

    Recipe

    📖 Recipe

    cheeseburger macaroni mexican mac n cheese

    Mexican Cheeseburger Macaroni

    The Curry Mommy
    A hamburger helper version of cheeseburger macaroni made from scratch with extra seasonings and flavors.
    5 from 2 votes
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Italian, Mexican
    Servings 4

    Ingredients
      

    PASTA INGREDIENTS

    • 1 lb ground protein (turkey, beef, soy, etc)
    • 10 oz diced tomato and peppers (i.e. Rotel)
    • 1 package McCormick taco seasoning
    • 1 cup elbow macaroni
    • 2 cups water or broth
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 3 cloves garlic
    • red chili powder (optional)
    • oil

    CHEESE SAUCE INGREDIENTS

    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • 2 tablespoon flour
    • ¾ cup milk
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

    Instructions
     

    PASTA METHOD

    • Heat a pan and add a pinch of oil. Mash your ground protein and then add it to the pan. (SIDE NOTE: I like to mix mine so the lines of the ground meat don't cook in the same form/shape.)
    • Stir in the taco seasoning, garlic, red chili powder, Rotel, and salt.
    • Mix and add 2 cups of water and the pasta.
    • Once the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat to medium low and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, you can make the cheese sauce.
    • After the water has evaporated, stir in the cheese sauce.
    • Mix the two together and simmer for about 3 minutes. 
    • Serve!

    CHEESE SAUCE METHOD

    • Heat a saucepan and add butter to it. Once heated, add the flour and whisk until cooked through (about 1-2minutes on low heat).
    • Whisk in the milk and bring the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture boils and thickens, remove it from the heat.
    • Add in the cup of shredded cheese and continue to whisk until it is all mixed and a thick sauce. Set it aside until ready to mix with the pasta.
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @TheCurryMommy or #thecurrymommy!
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    A tasty Cheeseburger Macaroni recipe created by recipe developer The Curry Mommy
    the curry mommy cheeseburger macaroni

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