If you’re looking for a super easy, kid-pleasing crock pot recipe…give this cheeseburger macaroni casserole a try…it’s yummy 🙂
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 6 hrs
Total Time 6 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
-
1
pound
macaroni
uncooked (BUT it IS better if you cooked it a couple minutes)
-
3
cups
milk
-
½
stick
butter
melted
-
1
package
cream cheese
(softened and cut into small chunks)
-
2-4
cups
shredded cheddar
-
1
pound
precooked ground beef
-
1-2
cups
shredded mozzarella
optional
-
3
ribs
celery
diced (optional)
-
1
bell pepper
diced (optional)
-
1
tbsp
red wine vinegar
(optional, but adds a nice punch)
-
2-3
tsp
smoked paprika
(less if you prefer a milder flavor)
-
2-3
tsp
garlic powder
(less if you prefer a milder flavor)
-
salt & pepper
to taste
Instructions
-
Mix the milk, butter and red wine vinegar. Add the paprika, garlic powder and salt & pepper. Stir well and set aside.
-
Butter the crock pot insert really well.
-
Add the pasta,
ground beef, diced cream cheese pieces, half the mozzarella (if you’re
using it), celery and bell pepper to the slow cooker. Toss to combine.
-
Pour the milk sauce over the top. Top with remaining shredded mozzarella cheese.
-
Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.
-
Serve it up with a side salad and some dinner rolls…I doubt there’ll be leftovers 🙂
Freezer Meal Directions:
-
Cook the pasta according to package directions BUT for only half the time indicated. Drain and set aside.
-
In a large freezer bag, combine the pasta, vegetables, cream cheese and 1/2 the mozzarella.
-
In a quart-sized
bag, combine the liquid ingredients and the spices. Place the quart
sized bag inside the larger bag with the pasta-meat-vegetable mixture.
-
Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before proceeding with cooking directions shown above.
Recipe Notes
Here are a couple more seasoning options. Just delete the paprika and go a little lighter on the garlic powder…
- 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
- Add 1 tablespoon taco seasoning or keep the paprika and go with a little less taco seasoning
- 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
Want to make it a complete meal?
- Add 1 to 2 cups of defrosted, frozen peas and carrots in step #3, cover and allow it to cook another 30 minutes or so.
- If you’re going for the taco seasoning then a frozen or canned corn
would work great! Add a can of black beans too! These could get tossed
in during step #1 without issue.
- If you’d rather do Italian then broccoli, cauliflower or Italian green beans would work great!