Italian Mini Meatloaves Macaroni and Three Cheeses

Submitted by ShortyBond

"This is another Rachel Ray recipe. I made this one tonight and it's really good!! (I don't even like meat loaf, but I like this one.) However, personally I don't care for the herbs on the mac and cheese. Next time I'm sticking with just bread crumbs and parsley."

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 24
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• Meat Loaves

• 1 1⁄3 lbs ground sirloin
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2⁄3 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1⁄4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1⁄2 small bell pepper, chopped
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• salt
• pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• Macaroni and Cheese

• 1 lb spiral shaped pasta or 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1⁄2 cup shredded asiago cheese
• 1⁄2 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
• 1⁄2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 2 -3 tablespoons chopped rosemary
• 1⁄4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

directions

1. Mini Meat Loaves:

2. Preheat oven to 425°F.
3. Place meat in bowl. Make a well in meat. Fill well with egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, peppers, onions, garlic, tomato paste, salt and pepper.
4. Mix meat and breading and form four individual oval meat loaves, 1" thick.
5. Coat loaves with extra virgin olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet. Roast 18-20 minutes.

6. Macaroni and Cheese:

7. Put a large pot of water on to boil for pasta.
8. When the pasta water boils, salt water and add pasta. Cook until slightly undercooked-pasta will continue to cook when combined with cheese sauce.
9. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan and add flour. Whisk in milk.
10. Bring to a bubble and thicken milk for 2-3 minutes.
11. Add cheeses (cheddar, asiago, and Parmesan) and black pepper. Stir to melt cheeses.
12. Drain pasta and combine with melted cheese sauce and transfer to a baking or casserole dish.
13. Place bread crumbs in a bowl and add EVOO and herbs to bread crumbs. Top pasta with bread crumbs.
14. Place under a broiler and brown bread crumbs. (If you do not have a separate broiler, place in oven with meatloaves for last few minutes. I did this and it turned out fine.).