Layered Mac 'n Cheese With Ground Beef

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 dash cayenne
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup soft breadcrumbs, about 2 slices bread

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 spray 2 quart casserole with cooking spray.
• 3 cook and drain macaroni as directed on package.
• 4 meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, cook beef and garlic, 1/2 t of the salt and 1/4 t pepper over medium-high heat 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain, if desired.
• 5 in 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
• 6 stir in flour, cook 1 minute, stirring constantly, until bubbly.
• 7 stir in milk, cook 5-6 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens slightly.
• 8 stir remaining 1/2 t salt, the nutmeg and cayenne.
• 9 remove from heat; stir in cheese.
• 10 fold in macaroni.
• 11 spoon 1/3 of the macaroni mixture (about 1 1/3 cups) into casserole; top with half of the beef (about 1 1/2 cups).
• 12 layer with another 1/3 of the macaroni mixture, remaining beef and remaining macaroni mixture.
• 13 top with bread crumbs.
• 14 bake uncovered 25-30 minutes or until bread crumbs are golden brown.