Cheesy Beef Mac (Print-Friendly Version)

# What You'll Need:

01 - 1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems, chopped, with extra for sprinkling on top (optional)
02 - 4 ounces cream cheese
03 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
04 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
05 - 5 cups low-sodium chicken stock or broth
06 - Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, if you'd like
07 - 1 large onion, chopped small
08 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
10 - Freshly cracked black pepper
11 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
12 - 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
13 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
14 - A dash of kosher salt
15 - 10 ounces of elbow macaroni
16 - 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (roughly 8 ounces)

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Warm up the vegetable oil in a big pot over medium heat. Toss in the onion and let it cook, giving it the occasional stir, until softened, which should take 6–7 minutes. Add garlic and stir for around a minute until it smells amazing.
02 - Mix in the chili powder, paprika, a bit of crushed red pepper if you like heat, a teaspoon of kosher salt, and some black pepper. Add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon to break it into pieces. Keep cooking and stirring once in a while until the beef loses all pink color, about 6–7 minutes.
03 - Add the tomato paste and Dijon mustard and give it a good stir until the mixture looks even.
04 - Add chicken stock to the pot, sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and let it boil for about 6–7 minutes. Drop in the elbow macaroni, stir every so often, and cook the pasta until it's tender and the liquid thickens, which should take around 9–11 minutes.
05 - Take the pot off the burner. Stir both the shredded Cheddar and cream cheese in until no chunks remain. Mix in the parsley and add a bit more on top, if you'd like.
06 - Spoon any leftovers into a sealed container and pop it in the fridge, where it’ll stay good for up to 5 days.

# Helpful Notes:

01 - You don’t need more than one pot, so cleanup is a breeze.
02 - This affordable, comforting meal is great for casual weeknight dinners.

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