Sloppy Joe Mac and Cheese

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Servings: 8
Yield: 8 servings

Description

This Sloppy Joe mac and cheese casserole is a winning combination of two classic comfort foods. It's hearty, satisfying, and easy to make too!

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can canned diced tomatoes
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (1 3/10 ounce) envelope sloppy joe seasoning
1/4 cup butter
1 small onion, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups half-and-half
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Directions

1 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2 Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large casserole dish.
3 Cook ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until evenly browned. Drain grease. Mix in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and Sloppy Joe seasoning. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
4 While the Sloppy Joe mixture is cooking, melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in onion and cook until tender. Mix in flour, mustard, salt, and pepper. In a bowl, mix the half-and-half and Worcestershire sauce together. Gradually whisk half-and-half mixture into the pot. Bring to a boil and cook until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
5 Remove from the heat and mix in 3 cups Cheddar. Stir cooked macaroni into the pot until evenly coated with sauce. Transfer to the casserole dish. Layer Sloppy Joe mixture over top and sprinkle with remaining Cheddar.
6 Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until bubbly, about 10 more minutes.