Cheating with Velveeta.

This is simply one of those, "I really have no idea what to make tonight" meals.  When it comes to packaged macaroni and cheese, I prefer the Velveeta Shells and Cheese; it's smoother and creamier than the powdered cheese brands.  It also makes a one skillet meal easier to create, and I don't have to deal with "hamburger helper" type boxed stuff.

Now I have tried Velveeta's Skillet Meals, and hated it!  Even though I was using the Velveeta cheese (I know, is it really cheese?), there were added ingredients in the box that simply gave the entire meal a horrible after taste.  The recipe I'm posting was simply looking through the pantry, figuring out what would go together with ground beef, and creating a total one skillet meal.  Yes, a separate pan is needed to cook the pasta, but the total package deal is created deliciously in one skillet.

Semi-Homemade Velveeta Cheeseburger Macaroni

 

Ingredients:

 

1 package (24 oz.) Velveeta Shells and Cheese - Family Size

1 and 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef (93% or leaner)

1 small onion, diced

1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes with green chiles (mild, medium if desired hotter)

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

 

Preparation:

 

Prepare shells from Velveeta package as directed, but do not add the cheese sauce.

 

At the same time, in a 12 skillet, medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onions.










Add the diced tomatoes, ground black pepper and cooked shells; mix and let cook for 5 minutes.

Now here comes the Velveeta cheese part, squeeze it into the skillet, mix, reduce the heat to low, let it cook 5 minutes. 

Makes 6 servings of awesome goodness!  ...and here's the best part, the whole thing only took 20 minutes.  Semi-homemade, simple, easy and quick; can't ask for anything more, well except take out.

Mary Cokenour