Southwest Beefy Mac and Cheese

I’ve yet to meet a kid who doesn’t like mac and cheese. Seriously … the promise of lunch from the blue box will make any kid’s eyes sparkle.

And as a grown-up, I admit that I’ve stolen a bite or two from the kids’ plates. But now I crave something a little more sophisticated. I still want the cheesy, noodle-y goodness, but I also want a little twist on the classic. Enter Southwest Beefy Mac & Cheese. Cheese and noodles plus hamburger and a Tex-Mex twist. Now THAT is a complete meal for a grown-up … and since it’s still mac and cheese, it’s perfect for the whole family.

Southwest Beefy Mac & Cheese

By Lisa Ek

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 2 tsp. Seasoned Salt
• ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
• ¼ cup flour
• 2½ cups milk
• 2 Tbsp. Simply Salsa™ Mix
• 2 cups (16 oz.) shredded taco cheese
• 7 oz. prepared elbow macaroni

Brown ground beef with Seasoned Salt; drain. Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat and stir in milk and Simply Salsa. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese until melted; add macaroni and ground beef and cook until heated through. Makes about 6 servings.

Southwest Beefy Mac and Cheese

Tips:

• Be sure to heat the flour in the melted butter long enough to “cook” the flour. This will give the sauce a buttery flavor rather than a flour flavor and will make the sauce nice and smooth.
• You can turn this into a comfort casserole by placing the prepared mac and cheese in a greased casserole dish; top with additional shredded cheese and crumbled Blue Aztec Chips. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees until heated through and cheese on top is melted, about 20 minutes.
• For a spicier dish, add more Simply Salsa or a sprinkle of Fiesta Party Dip Mix to the cream sauce.

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