Ultimate 2-in-1 Comfort: Sloppy Joe Mac & Cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large casserole dish.

Cook ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until evenly browned. Drain grease. Mix in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and Sloppy Joe seasoning. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

While the Sloppy Joe mixture is cooking, melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in onion and cook until tender. Mix in flour, mustard, salt, and pepper. In a bowl, mix the half-and-half and Worcestershire sauce together. Gradually whisk half-and-half mixture into the pot. Bring to a boil and cook until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.

Remove from the heat and mix in 3 cups Cheddar. Stir cooked macaroni into the pot until evenly coated with sauce. Transfer to the casserole dish. Layer Sloppy Joe mixture over top and sprinkle with remaining Cheddar.

Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until bubbly, about 10 more minutes.