Hamburger Macaroni with Cheese
Hamburger Macaroni with Cheese blends tender elbow pasta with seasoned ground beef in a creamy, melty cheese sauce rounded out by a touch of sour cream. It’s rich, comforting, and kid-friendly, perfect for busy weeknights or a nostalgic, no-fuss dinner. Expect a cozy balance of cheesy creaminess and savory beef in every bite.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Hamburger Macaroni with Cheese, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 12 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 51 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 18
- Heart Health
- 33
- Metabolic
- 42
- Digestive
- 23
- Inflammatory
- 33
- Performance
- 36
- General Wellness
- 1
Assemble all the ingredients.
- 2
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir the ground beef, onion, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in the hot skillet until the beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard the grease.
- 3
Turn the heat up to high. Add water to the ground beef mixture in the skillet. Cover and bring to a boil. Stir the macaroni into the boiling water–ground beef mixture. Cover, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 5 minutes. Stir, cover again, and continue cooking until the macaroni is tender, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Stir the processed cheese food into the ground beef–macaroni mixture until melted. Remove from the heat; stir in the sour cream.
- Calories 701.48 kcal High 35%
- Protein 29.98 g Good Source 60%
- Carbohydrate 75.03 g 27%
- Total Fat 31.86 g High 41%
- Saturated Fat 15.9 g High 80%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 104.91 mg High 35%
- Sodium 976.4 mg High 42%
- Dietary Fiber 5.96 g Good Source 21%
- Total Sugars 6.85 g --
- Added Sugars 4.97 g Moderate 10%
- Calcium 622.92 mg Good Source 48%
- Iron 3.73 mg Good Source 21%
- Potassium 205.74 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 0.1 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 0.17 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Hamburger Macaroni with Cheese is made with 9 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 30 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, Ground Beef, and Macaroni. Each serving provides about 701.48 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Hamburger Macaroni with Cheese made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, Ground Beef, Macaroni, Onion. The full list of 9 is above.
- How long does it take to make Hamburger Macaroni with Cheese?
- About 30 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 701.48 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Hamburger Macaroni with Cheese easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 9 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Hamburger Macaroni with Cheese healthy?
- Hamburger Macaroni with Cheese has an easyChef Pro health score of 41/100. Per serving, it provides 701.48 calories and 29.98 g of protein, or 60% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 976.4 mg (42% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 15.9 g (80% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 4.97 g (10% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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