Description
Hearty meatball macaroni and cheese brings Italian comfort to classic American cuisine. Robust beef meatballs nestled in creamy, golden cheese sauce promise a satisfying meal you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 0.5 pounds ground beef
- 0.5 pounds sweet Italian sausage meat
- 2 large eggs
Bread and Cheese Binders:
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.5 cup dried breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients:
- 0.75 pounds elbow noodles
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2.5 cups milk
- 0.75 pounds shredded cheese
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1 pinch nutmeg
Instructions
- Boil water in a large pot with salt and cook pasta for 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain pasta without rinsing or adding oil.
- In a mixing bowl, gently combine meatball ingredients, ensuring not to overmix the meat mixture.
- Shape meat mixture into small 1-inch (2.5 centimeters) spheres, placing approximately 30 meatballs on a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Position oven rack on the second level from the top and broil meatballs for 5-6 minutes, rotating pan occasionally to ensure even browning. Verify internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan, then whisk in flour, stirring continuously for one minute without allowing mixture to brown.
- Gradually pour milk into the roux, whisking consistently until the sauce simmers and slightly thickens. Avoid boiling.
- Remove sauce from heat and gradually incorporate shredded cheese, stirring until completely melted. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg if desired.
- Fold pasta into cheese sauce, ensuring thorough coating. Transfer mixture to a baking dish and nestle broiled meatballs throughout.
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes until mixture is bubbling. Optional: Briefly broil for additional browning, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Notes
- Perfectly broiled meatballs add a protein-packed punch to this classic comfort food, transforming traditional mac and cheese into a hearty meal.
- Shake the broiling pan during cooking to ensure meatballs brown evenly and develop a delicious caramelized exterior.
- Internal meatball temperature matters: 160°F guarantees safe and juicy meat without compromising texture or flavor.
- Whisk constantly when making the cheese sauce to prevent burning and create a smooth, creamy base that coats every pasta noodle.
- Nestling meatballs directly into the mac and cheese allows them to absorb and infuse the cheesy goodness during the final baking stage.
- Running the dish under the broiler for a brief moment creates an irresistible golden-brown crispy top that adds textural contrast.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Boiling/Broiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 590 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 880 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg