Cowboy Mac N’ Cheese

Dig into this delicious cowboy mac n’ cheese, a rich and savory twist on a classic, packed with seasoned ground beef, melty cheddar cheese, and perfectly cooked pasta. This hearty, flavor-packed comfort food is ideal for busy weeknights.

Cowboy Mac N’ Cheese Recipe

I’m sure we all have had the classic hamburger helper. This recipe is where the idea for my cowboy mac n’ cheese originated from. My husband said how much he loved it growing up (gross right?). So instead of buying that stuff, I made my own version.

Cowboy mac n’ cheese is a hearty, one pan comfort food packed with seasoned ground beef, creamy cheddar and tender pasta. It’s quick to make and kid friendly, making it the perfect weeknight dinner for busy families or anyone craving hamburger helper ;).

The Cowboys’ Rating: 9/10

Every time I make a new recipe, I have my family rate the recipe out of 10. By the time, these recipes make the blog, they’ve been tried and tested by some of my hardest tiny critics!

What Ingredients Are in Cowboy Mac N’ Cheese?

• Ground Beef – As always, we use our own homegrown ground beef that is grass-finished and regeneratively raised. It’s delicious, lean and so good. Our ground beef is 90/10 and I never have to drain off a bunch of fat.
• Macaroni Noodles – You can’t have mac n’ cheese without macaroni noodles.
• Beef broth – Instead of cooking the noodles separately and dirtying another dish, I just add all the liquid I need into the same pan. I use beef broth to bring in some extra flavor.
• Worcestershire Sauce – I use Worcestershire sauce often to enhance the flavor of ground beef.
• Condensed Tomato Soup – This is my secret ingredient to adding a burst of flavor to this meal. I use condensed tomato soup all the time in my pasta recipes.
• Diced Tomatoes – I just like to add some diced tomatoes to add in some veggies and texture.
• Whole Milk
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese – To get a richer more delicious melty cheese, I like to buy the brick cheese and shred the cheese by hand. The pre-shredded stuff just isn’t as good, just trust me here.

SEASONINGS

• Minced Garlic
• Onion Powder
• Kosher Salt
• Pepper
• Sugar

Tools You’ll Need

• Frying Pan
• Spatula
• Measuring Cups & Spoons
• Liquid Measuring Cup
• Can Opener

Recipe for Cowboy Mac N’ Cheese

1. In a frying pan, mix together ground beef, seasonings and Worcestershire sauce. Cook ground beef until completely cooked through.
2. Add in tomato soup, diced tomatoes, beef broth, milk and noodles. Mix until well incorporated.
3. Cover and cook on medium low heat stirring frequently until noodles are soft and have absorbed most of the moisture.
4. When noodles are soft, remove cover and add in shredded cheese. Mix until cheese has melted.
5. Serve and enjoy!

Gluten Free Philly Cowboy Mac N’ cheese

This recipe can easily be made to be gluten free! Here’s how:

First, make sure that all your ingredients are indeed gluten free. Everything in this recipe should be gluten free except for the noodles, but I always caution to double check and make sure your ingredients are gluten free.

Second, you will want to choose a gluten free noodle. I love the Banza gluten free chickpea noodles. They have a great flavor and are loaded with protein.

Storage and Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready for some yummy leftovers, just pop it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

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