Description
Indulgent winter bacon mac n cheese stuffed burger brings comfort food to new heights, combining creamy pasta and juicy beef in one irresistible package. Hearty layers of flavor promise a satisfying meal that delivers warmth and pure culinary pleasure for hungry diners.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ½ cup (60 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Pasta and Serving Components:
- 1 cup (100 grams) cooked elbow macaroni
- 4 burger buns, toasted
- Lettuce, tomato slices, and pickles (optional)
- Additional bacon or mac n cheese for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a flavorful mac n cheese base by boiling elbow macaroni until perfectly tender, then drain and set aside.
- Create a velvety cheese sauce in a saucepan by melting butter and whisking in flour to form a smooth roux, gradually incorporating milk until silky.
- Blend shredded cheddar into the sauce, stirring until luxuriously creamy and well-seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Fold cooked macaroni into the cheese mixture, ensuring each pasta piece is generously coated with the rich sauce.
- Render bacon in a skillet over medium heat, cooking until achieving a crisp, golden-brown texture. Optional: sprinkle brown sugar for caramelized edges.
- Drain bacon on paper towels, allowing excess grease to absorb, then crumble or chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Divide ground beef into four equal portions, seasoning each with salt and pepper for enhanced flavor profile.
- Craft burger patties by forming two thin rounds per serving, creating a pocket in the center of one patty for the mac n cheese filling.
- Generously spoon prepared mac n cheese into the patty pocket, carefully sealing with the second patty by pinching edges to prevent leakage.
- Heat a grill pan with olive oil, searing stuffed patties for 4-5 minutes per side until achieving desired internal temperature and a robust exterior crust.
- Lightly toast burger buns to provide a crisp foundation for the decadent creation.
- Assemble burgers by layering the mac n cheese-stuffed patty on the bottom bun, crowning with crispy bacon and optional fresh toppings.
- Complete the burger with the top bun and serve immediately to preserve the melted, gooey interior and optimal temperature.
Notes
- Customize mac n cheese by experimenting with different cheese blends for unique flavor profiles, like mixing sharp cheddar with smoked gouda or adding a touch of blue cheese.
- Prevent mac n cheese from becoming dry by ensuring a creamy sauce consistency before stuffing burgers, using full-fat milk and melting cheese slowly.
- Add crunch and texture variation by mixing crispy panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers into the mac n cheese filling for an unexpected textural surprise.
- Accommodate dietary restrictions by substituting ground beef with plant-based alternatives, using gluten-free pasta, and creating dairy-free cheese sauce using nutritional yeast and cashew cream.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 850
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 54 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg