A fusion between two classic comfort dishes, sloppy joe mac and cheese strikes the perfect balance between smoky, savory, salty, and cheesy flavors. This easy twist on a standard pasta dish combines the creaminess of mac and cheese with the hearty meat of sloppy joes to create a dish everyone is sure to love.
Melt the butter in a large cast iron skillet. Once the butter is completely melted, stir in the flour until homogenous.
Add the milk and cheese and stir constantly until the cheese is completely melted and the mixture begins to bubble.
Once the cheese sauce is bubbly, fold in the noodles until they are evenly coated in the sauce.
Combine the ground beef, spices, and tomato paste in a small bowl and then fold it into the pasta until evenly distributed.
Serve and enjoy!
Notes
I like to use medium cheddar cheese instead of mild because it helps balance out the sweetness of the tomato paste.
The smoked paprika and cumin also help cut the sweetness of the tomato paste.
You can store this dish in the fridge for up to about five days and reheat it in the microwave.
You can also store this dish in the freezer for up to two months. I like to let it thaw in the fridge before putting it in the oven at 350 degrees until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.