Description
A cheesy, smoky, and savory baked casserole layered with pasta, ground beef, tangy BBQ sauce, crispy bacon, and gooey cheddar — comfort food at its finest.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz elbow macaroni (or cavatappi)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (smoky or sweet, your choice)
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk (warmed)
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp mustard powder (optional)
- 8 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
- Extra BBQ drizzle (optional)
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, cook ground beef with onion until browned. Add garlic, BBQ sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Melt butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to make a roux, cooking for 1–2 minutes. Slowly whisk in warm milk until smooth and slightly thickened. Stir in 2 cups cheddar cheese, paprika, and mustard powder until melted.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, combine pasta, cheese sauce, and beef mixture. Stir until evenly coated. Top with remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese and chopped bacon.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until bubbly and golden on top. Optional: Drizzle extra BBQ sauce over the top before serving.
Notes
- Feel free to use your favorite type of pasta.
- For a spicier kick, add jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef mixture.
- This casserole can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg