Recipe video above. It's beefy, cheesy and saucy. If you love Cheeseburgers and Mac and Cheese, then you will LOVE this Cheeseburger Casserole! A homemade version of Hamburger Helper, the boxed pasta. One pot, 30 minutes start to finish!
Heat oil in a dutch oven or large deep skillet over medium high heat.
Add onion and garlic, cook 1 minute.
Add celery and carrot, cook 3 minutes until soft.
Increase heat to high and add beef. Cook, breaking it up as you go, until no longer pink - 3 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT cheese. Stir to combine, add macaroni, then turn down to medium or medium low so it's simmering gently.
Cover, cook 8 minutes. Pasta should be just about cooked, and still nice and saucy.
Add cheddar cheese, stir. Top with mozzarella cheese.
Cover with lid, cook for a further 2 minutes.
Remove from stove. The pasta should now be cooked - tender but firm, not mushy, slick with sauce, not dried out.
Serve immediately, garnished with green onions, if using.
Notes
* These are optional. Can also add more diced vegetables of choice - or even reduce pasta and add even more veg.1. American chili powder is a combination of spices, not just chilli. I always bring some back with me! Sub as follows: 1/4 tsp each paprika, cumin, coriander plus pinch of cayenne.2. Cheese - You can substitute with other cheeses that melt but be sure to use a flavoured cheese, not a mild flavoured cheese like mozzarella. The cheese is required for flavouring in this recipe.3. Storage - As with all pastas, the sauce tends to get sucked up by the pasta so it's not as saucy. But this reheats very well - I just microwave. Haven't tried freezing but I see no reason why it wouldn't freeze well.Make ahead idea - make the beef and add all the liquids. Then store until required and on the day of, reheat the beef/liquid, add pasta and cook per recipe.4. Source: My good friend Jo from Jo Cooks, it's one of many fabulous one pot recipes in her cookbook, 30 Minute One Pot Meals. Ever so slightly amended.5. Nutrition per serving