Call it whatever you want — this is the ultimate comfort food mashup. Rich, smoky meat sauce layered with the creamiest three-cheese mac and baked until golden and bubbling. One bite and you’ll understand why this one is so popular
🛒 Ingredients
Meat Sauce:
* Olive or avocado oil
* 1 medium onion, finely diced
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 carrot, finely chopped (or any veg you like)
* 450g ground beef
* 2 tbsp tomato paste
* 150–200ml beef broth
* 1 can chopped tomatoes
* 3 tbsp red wine (optional)
* 1 tsp each: smoked paprika, barbecue spice blend, dried oregano
* ½–1 tsp chili flakes
* Salt & black pepper
Mac & Cheese:
* 350g macaroni
* 3 tbsp butter
* 3 tbsp flour
* 500ml whole milk
* 200ml cream
* 250g mature cheddar, grated
* 250g havarti or Monterey Jack, grated
* 100g mozzarella, grated
* 1 tsp Dijon mustard
* Pinch of nutmeg
* 1–2 tsp hot sauce
* 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder (optional)
* Salt & pepper
Directions
1. Heat oil in a skillet and fry onion and garlic for a minute, then add carrot
2. Add ground beef and cook until browned, then stir in tomato paste
3. Add beef broth, canned tomatoes, and all seasonings — cover and simmer until rich
4. Boil macaroni until just tender, drain, and stir with a little butter
5. Melt butter for the cheese sauce, whisk in flour, then add milk and cream — stir until thickened
6. Stir in half the cheese mixture until smooth, then season with nutmeg, mustard, hot sauce, bouillon, salt, and pepper — mix in macaroni
7. In a baking dish layer mac and cheese with meat sauce, sprinkling reserved cheese between layers — finish with plenty of cheese on top
8. Bake at 190°C / 375°F for 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbling
9. Rest for 10 minutes before serving
