One Pot Chipotle Cheeseburger Mac is creamy, cheesy and slightly spicy. Best of all, this quick and easy pasta dinner takes just 30 minutes to make!
The kids have been in school for less than a month, and already, they've been taking turns being sick. Seriously, what's up with that? It seems to happen every year about this time. Anyway, I've been taking care of the sick kiddos, and that makes things even crazier around here.
So, this week has definitely been all about one-pot meals. They're easy to make, easy to clean up and very comforting to eat. Whenever I have a week like this one, I just crave comfort food. And in all honesty, they really do make life easier.
This particular one-pot wonder is a delicious twist on the classic cheeseburger mac. I grew up on the boxed kind, and it was one of my favorite dinners. Of course, the boxes are also filled with loads of sodium and other stuff, so I started making my own. And it's such a simple and easy meal dinner to make.
Basically all you need is ground beef, cream, cheese, pasta and a few spices. You just mix them all together in a skillet, and in about 30 minutes, dinner is ready.
Even though this pasta dish has chipotle pepper in it, it's not overly spicy. In fact, the pepper adds just a little bit of smoky heat and color to the pasta, which I think is necessary. I love me some spice! I also used some Dijon mustard and plenty of paprika for extra flavor.
How To Make One Pot Chipotle Cheeseburger Mac
One Pot Chipotle Cheeseburger Mac
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onions
- ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cups mini penne
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Diced tomatoes and chopped parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet, and drain any excess fat
- Stir in the salt, pepper, onions and garlic powder
- Add the pasta and water
- Cover and cook on high heat, stirring occasionally, until most of the water is absorbed and pasta is almost cooked
- Reduce heat to low and stir in the mustard, cream, chipotle seasoning, paprika and cheese
- Let simmer until sauce thickens, and add the tomatoes and parsley, if using
- Enjoy!
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
My family, gave this easy one pot chipotle cheeseburger mac a huge thumbs up. These people are definitely my harshest critics, so if they like it, you know it's halfway decent! Actually, it's more than halfway decent, if I do say so myself. It's creamy, slightly spicy and smoky, and cheesy -- good stuff!
I also have to say that I usually serve these one dish meals with a fresh green salad, and the servings are about a cup or maybe one half cup each. It's a little less for the kiddos. These cheesy dinners are filling, so a little goes a long way.
And the leftovers are awesome!
Happy cooking, and have a great day, friends!
Sharing at
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Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Have a great day and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen!
Cathy Trochelman says
Such a great dinner mashup...my family would love this!
Cookin Canuck says
Ugh, that's the worst when kids get hit with those school germs right off the bat. Hope everyone gets better soon. This one-pot mac looks like the perfect, easy comfort food for school nights.
Dee says
It happens every year, sigh. Thank you so much!
Chavonne Harvey says
Oh my this looks so incredibly delicious. I've always wanted to try a one pot dish with pasta especially. This is going to be so good.
Dee says
Thanks so much! We really loved it. 🙂
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom says
This looks SO good and I love how easy it is!! My kids have been in school a week and a half and my daughter has been sick once and now my son is going on his second cold! Why can't we skip the back to school sickies just one year? 😉
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Dee says
Thanks, Carrie. I totally agree with you! 🙂
Justine | Cooking and Beer says
Holy cow. You've combined my two favorite things: Cheeseburgers and Mac and Cheese! YUM!
Matthew from Nomageddon says
Stop! You had me at one pot. Dishes are the worst.
Brandy | Nutmeg Nanny says
I can't even tell you how much easier life is with one pot meals!
Dee says
Oh yes! That's why we love them!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
I'm a big fan of one-pt dinners and this one looks GREAT!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
What an incredible one pot dinner!! Can't wait to give it a try!!