I love this dish and it has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I don't remember what I was trying to recreate when I came up with it, but it turned out to be a real winner. I make it kinda spicy, but feel free to adjust the seasonings according to your personal tastes. It is also an easy and economical way to feed a lot of people, just double or triple the amounts. And as always, ENJOY!
1 pound ground chuck
1 onion, peeled and chopped
2 14-oz cans of diced tomatoes
2-3 tsps. chili powder
1 1/2 tsps. garlic powder
3-4 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 lb. dry macaroni, cooked al dente
Heat a dutch oven and fry the onion and ground chuck. If fatty, drain off the excess fat. Add the tomatoes, the garlic powder and chili powder. Add the cooked macaroni, then place in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover with grated cheese and bake at 350 degrees about 45 minutes, until it is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown. Allow to cool briefly before serving. With a steamed vegetable (buttered corn goes very well with this) and some crusty bread you have a good meal.
Variations: core and chop a green pepper, saute it with the onion and ground beef.
for a warmer version, add some chopped jalepeno peppers or a tsp. of crushed red pepper.
