Bushra Griffith
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be easily adapted to include mince for a hearty, flavoursome meal. This dish is versatile, allowing for customisation with various types of mince, cheeses, and additional ingredients to create a creamy, cheesy, and comforting meal. It can be prepared in different ways, from stovetop to baked methods, and can be made in large batches for convenient freezing and reheating. With its simplicity and adaptability, macaroni and cheese with mince is an excellent option for busy weeknights and feeding a crowd.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of dish | Comfort food, side dish, mid-week meal, casserole, pasta bake |
| Ingredients | Macaroni, mince (beef, pork, lamb, chicken), cheese (cheddar, mozzarella), milk, butter, flour, salt, pepper, onion, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, herbs, Worcestershire sauce, stock cubes, barbecue sauce, cannellini beans, olive oil, spices |
| Recipe steps | Boil macaroni, make roux (melt butter, add flour, salt, pepper, milk), add cheese to make sauce, drain macaroni, combine with sauce, add mince, bake |
| Variations | Add beans, spices, egg, dry mustard, extra cheese, thicker macaroni, different types of pasta |
| Yield | Serves 4 or 2 with leftovers |
| Nutrition | High in calories, fat, protein |
| Storage | Can be frozen and reheated |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the mince
Firstly, preheat your oven to 200°C. Grease a 23cm square baking dish and set it aside.
In a large pot, cook your pasta according to the packet instructions until al dente, drain, and set aside.
Heat some oil in a large frying pan or casserole dish. Add an onion and sauté for a few minutes until it is soft and translucent. Next, add your beef mince. Use a spatula to break up the mince and fry until it is browned.
Add a tablespoon of tomato paste, a teaspoon each of cumin, celery salt, and ground coriander, and a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together so that the mince is evenly coated.
Dissolve 2 stock cubes in 500ml of boiling water and pour this into the pan along with a tin of cannellini beans. Give everything a good stir and leave to simmer for a couple of minutes. Finally, pour in a generous glug of barbecue sauce and stir everything together.
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Making the cheese sauce
To make the cheese sauce, you will need butter, flour, milk, and cheese. Some recipes also include cayenne pepper and salt to taste.
First, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, salt, and pepper, and stir until smooth. You can also add a little milk at this stage to make a roux, which is a thickening agent. Keep stirring until the mixture is smooth and bubbling. Be careful not to let the milk burn.
Next, slowly pour in the milk and whisk continuously. Keep whisking until the sauce starts to thicken. You can add salt and cayenne pepper at this stage.
Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat and slowly stir in the grated cheese. Keep stirring until the cheese is smooth and melted. You can use cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend of cheeses. It is recommended to grate your own cheese as pre-shredded cheese may not incorporate into the mixture as well.
Finally, combine the cooked pasta with the sauce. You can either stir the pasta directly into the cheese sauce or pour the sauce over the pasta in a baking dish.
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Cooking the macaroni
To prepare macaroni and cheese with mince, you'll first need to cook the macaroni. Here's a step-by-step guide to cooking the macaroni:
Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil. You'll need enough water to generously cover the macaroni, as this will ensure even cooking. It's important not to add the macaroni to the pot before the water has reached a rolling boil, as this can affect the cooking time and texture of the pasta. Once the water is boiling vigorously, you can carefully add the macaroni.
For elbow macaroni, cook it until al dente, which usually takes around 8 minutes. However, it's a good idea to start testing the macaroni after about 5 minutes to avoid overcooking it. You're aiming for a firm yet edible texture. Remember, the macaroni will continue to cook when baked in the oven with the other ingredients, so it's better to undercook it slightly at this stage.
When the macaroni is ready, drain it in a colander and set it aside. You now have cooked macaroni ready to be used in your recipe.
While the macaroni is cooking, you can prepare the other ingredients and make the cheese sauce. This way, you can assemble and bake your macaroni and cheese with mince efficiently, ensuring the macaroni doesn't become overcooked or soggy.
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Combining the ingredients
First, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Next, prepare the mince. Heat oil in a large frying pan or casserole dish and add an onion, frying until caramelised. Then, add the garlic and fry for another minute. Now, add the beef mince and spices and brown the mince. For a simple recipe, you can use salt and pepper, but if you want to make a curried mince, you can add Durban masala, red chilli powder, cumin, garam masala, celery salt, and ground coriander.
Once the mince is browned, add the tomato paste, herbs, and Worcestershire sauce, and stir to combine. Dissolve the stock cubes in boiling water and pour into the pan along with the beans. Stir through the mince and simmer for 2 minutes. Then, pour in the barbecue sauce and stir.
Now, add the cooked pasta to the pan and mix to combine. Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish. For a creamier dish, you can first pour a little sauce into the dish, followed by the macaroni, then pour the rest of the sauce on top, and finally, pour the mince on top. Cover the mixture with grated cheese.
Place the dish under the grill and cook for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbling. Alternatively, bake at 180°C for 20-30 minutes, or at 170°C for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown.
Enjoy your macaroni and cheese with mince!
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Baking the dish
To bake macaroni and cheese with mince, you'll first need to prepare the mince and cheese sauce separately.
First, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside. Next, prepare the mince by heating oil in a large frying pan or casserole dish and adding an onion. Sauté for a few minutes, then add the beef mince. Fry the mince until browned. You can also add spices such as cumin, herbs, and Worcestershire sauce to the mince for extra flavour.
Now, prepare the cheese sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then add flour, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth. Slowly pour in milk and continue stirring until the mixture is smooth and bubbling. Be careful not to let the milk burn. Finally, add the cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
Once you have the three components ready, it's time to assemble the dish. Place the cooked pasta in a greased baking dish. Pour the sauce over the pasta, then spread the cooked mince on top. Sprinkle grated cheese over the entire mixture.
Bake the dish in the oven at a temperature between 170-200°C for about 10-30 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbling. Enjoy your hearty and comforting macaroni and cheese with mince!
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Frequently asked questions
This is a simple recipe that can be prepared in a few steps. First, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions until al dente. Then, prepare the mince by frying it with some onion, garlic, and spices. Make a roux by melting butter in a saucepan, adding flour, salt, and pepper, and stirring until smooth. Pour in milk and stir until bubbling, then add cheese and stir until melted. Combine the cooked pasta with the mince and pour the cheese sauce on top. Sprinkle with more cheese and bake in the oven until browned.
It is recommended to use freshly grated cheese from a block rather than pre-shredded cheese, as it melts better and creates a creamier sauce. Cheddar cheese is a popular choice for macaroni and cheese, but you can also use a blend of cheeses such as cheddar and mozzarella.
Yes, you can add extra ingredients to macaroni and cheese with mince to customize it to your taste. Some popular additions include beans, spices, and different types of meat such as bacon or chicken. You can also experiment with different types of pasta shapes and gluten-free options.
