Meaty Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 20 min.

Makes

4-6 servings

Updated: Jun. 08, 2022
My husband is disabled and requires constant care. This doesn't leave me a lot of time to cook, so I came up with this tasty way to beef up a box of macaroni and cheese. The hearty mixture gets extra flavor from corn, ripe olives and zippy salsa. -Charlotte Kremer, Pahrump, Nevada

Ingredients

  • 1 package (7-1/4 ounces) macaroni and cheese
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1-1/2 cups salsa
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn
  • 1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
  • 3 tablespoons diced pimientos
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Chopped tomato

Directions

  1. Set aside cheese sauce mix from macaroni and cheese; cook macaroni according to package directions.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the salsa, corn, olives and pimientos; cook until heated through.
  3. Drain macaroni; add to beef mixture with contents of cheese sauce mix. Cook and stir until blended and heated through. Sprinkle with cheese and tomato.
Editor's Note: The milk and butter listed on the macaroni and cheese package are not used in this recipe.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 291 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 716mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 20g protein.