Burger Mac Cheese Special Sauce (Printable)
Creamy mac and cheese meets juicy beef, finished with a tangy sauce swirl for a rich, satisfying meal.
# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 400 grams (14 oz) elbow macaroni
→ Cheese Sauce
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
04 - 500 milliliters (2 cups) whole milk
05 - 250 grams (2 cups) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
06 - 60 grams (½ cup) mozzarella cheese, shredded
07 - 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
08 - ½ teaspoon salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Burger Beef
10 - 450 grams (1 lb) ground beef (80/20 blend)
11 - 1 small onion, finely diced
12 - 1 tablespoon ketchup
13 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
14 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
15 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
16 - ½ teaspoon salt
17 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ Special Sauce
18 - 80 milliliters (⅓ cup) mayonnaise
19 - 1½ tablespoons ketchup
20 - 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
21 - 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
22 - ½ teaspoon white wine vinegar
23 - ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
24 - ¼ teaspoon onion powder
25 - Pinch of smoked paprika
→ Optional Toppings
26 - 2 tablespoons chopped pickles
27 - 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
28 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
# Directions:
01 - Cook the elbow macaroni in salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
02 - Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute to create a roux. Gradually whisk in the milk, bringing to a simmer and cooking until slightly thickened, approximately 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low, then incorporate the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, yellow mustard, salt, and black pepper. Stir continuously until the cheeses are fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
03 - In a skillet over medium-high heat, sauté the finely diced onion until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Stir in the ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Continue to cook until the beef is thoroughly browned and cooked through, approximately 6 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet if necessary.
04 - Add the drained macaroni to the saucepan containing the cheese sauce. Mix until the pasta is evenly coated.
05 - Gently fold the cooked burger beef into the macaroni and cheese mixture. Reserve a small portion of the beef for optional topping if desired.
06 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all the special sauce ingredients until well combined and smooth.
07 - Spoon the burger mac and cheese into a large serving dish. Artfully drizzle the special sauce in a swirl pattern over the entire surface. If using, garnish with reserved burger beef, chopped pickles, sliced green onions, and toasted sesame seeds.
08 - Serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Ready in under an hour for a weeknight comfort meal
- Uses pantry staples you likely already have on hand
- Combines two beloved comfort foods into one crowd pleasing dish
- Perfect for picky eaters who love both burgers and mac and cheese
02 -
- Reheats beautifully without separating unlike many cheese sauces
- Makes excellent leftovers for lunch the next day
- Can be assembled ahead and baked before serving
03 -
- Always grate your cheese fresh rather than using pre-shredded varieties, which contain anti-caking agents that can make your sauce grainy. The few extra minutes of prep time yield a significantly smoother, creamier sauce.