Chili Cheese Frito Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

Fritos

1 cup, lightly crushed

All-purpose flour

2 tablespoons

Unsalted butter

2 tablespoons

Milk

2 cups

Sharp Cheddar cheese

2 cups, shredded

Tomato sauce

1 cup

Chili powder

1 tablespoon

Garlic

2 cloves, minced

Onion

1, medium, finely chopped

Ground beef

1 pound

Macaroni

2 cups, uncooked

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and set aside.
2. Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion and minced garlic until the beef is thoroughly cooked and the onions are translucent. Drain any excess fat.
4. Stir in the chili powder and tomato sauce into the beef mixture. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
5. In a separate saucepan, create a roux by melting the butter over medium heat and stirring in the flour until it's well incorporated. Gradually whisk in the milk and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer until the sauce thickens.
6. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in 1 cup of the shredded Cheddar cheese until it melts into the sauce. Combine this cheese sauce with the cooked macaroni.
7. In your prepared baking dish, layer half of the cheesy macaroni, followed by half of the beef mixture, and then half of the remaining cheese. Repeat these layers once more.
8. Sprinkle the crushed Fritos over the top layer of the casserole.
9. Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and the Fritos have turned golden brown.
10. Allow the dish to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy this satisfying blend of textures and flavors!