Name: Prepare our Mac ’n’ Cheese Bolognese Bake in just 15 minutes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 large onion, finely chopped; 1kg lean beef mince; 2 x 500g jars bolognese pasta sauce; 410g can crushed tomatoes; 3 tsp dried Italian herbs; Salad leaves, to serve; TOPPING; 300g pasta curls; 75g butter, chopped; ¹⁄³ cup plain flour; 3 cups milk; 2 cups grated Perfect Bakes 3 Cheeses

Every second month, as is standard with the New Idea Food mag, cover and foodie experts alike gather around the boardroom table to decide what’s going to be the next face on the supermarket shelf.

Our Beef Mushroom Lasagne Bake is what made the August cover, but you never hear about the runner up.

New Idea Food Magazine cover August 2026 — There’s lots of deliberation when it comes to deciding on what makes it to the cover. *(Credit: New Idea Food)*

That being our Mac ‘n’ Cheese Bolognese Bake. When putting these images side by side, you can see why it was a close call.

Beef Mushroom Lasagne Bake and Mac ‘n’ Cheese Bolognese Bake — It was an incredibly close call choosing between our Beef Mushroom Lasagne Bake (left) and Mac ‘n’ Cheese Bolognese Bake (right) for the cover. *(Credit: New Idea Food)*

As Food Editor, I’ve done a lot of bakes in my time. And I reckon I’ve got it down to an art. But I’ll skip out on that development stuff this time round – so let’s get snappy with some quick tips.

Tips from an expert

The perfect pasta for any Mac ‘n’ Cheese?

Pasta curls without a doubt. These larger, hollow shells allow the sauce to swim through the gooey cheesy goodness. Any short pasta like macaroni, penne or rigatoni will also do the trick!

Cooking said pasta?

Al dente ALL THE WAY. The pasta needs to hold its shape and will cook further in the oven.

How about the cheesy white sauce?

If you can’t make a white sauce on the stove to save your life because it burns or sticks to the saucepan, try doing it in the microwave! Add butter to a large heatproof jug or bowl. Microwave 1 min on high until melted. Add flour. Microwave 1 min. Gradually whisk in milk. Microwave 2 mins at a time, whisking until sauce boils and thickens. Stir in cheese. (Oh, and a three-cheese blend is a must for a greater depth of flavour).

Ingredients

1 large onion, finely chopped

1kg lean beef mince

2 x 500g jars bolognese pasta sauce

410g can crushed tomatoes

3 tsp dried Italian herbs

Salad leaves, to serve

TOPPING

300g pasta curls

75g butter, chopped

¹⁄³ cup plain flour

3 cups milk

2 cups grated Perfect Bakes 3 Cheeses

Method

Step 1

Grease a large ovenproof dish (14-cup capacity).

Step 2

Heat a lightly oiled, large, deep frying pan over a high heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, for 3-5 mins, until soft and light golden. Add beef. Cook, stirring to break up mince, for about 10 mins, until well browned.

Step 3

Stir in sauce, tomatoes, herbs and ½ cup water. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Gently boil, stirring occasionally, for 15 mins, or until thick. Transfer to prepared dish.

Step 4

TOPPING: Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water until tender. Drain. Melt butter in same large saucepan over a medium heat. Add flour. Cook, stirring, for 1 min. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook, whisking, until sauce boils and thickens. Stir in 1½ cups cheese and pasta. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 5

Spoon topping over beef mixture in dish. Spread evenly. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Step 6

Cook in a 200°C oven for 20-25 mins, or until golden.

Step 7

Serve with salad leaves.

Karen Buckley Managing Food Editor

Growing up, Karen’s formative years were defined by cooking and baking alongside her loved ones. Since then, she’s turned this lifelong passion into a career, with an acquired 30 years of experience in leading test kitchens, developing the recipes you know and love. Across the New Idea, New Idea Food, Woman’s Day, Take 5, and That’s Life digital and print brands, she develops enough recipes in a year to last you 365 days (not that we’re counting). And with a TAFE Home Economics Certification under her belt, her dedication to creating healthy, affordable and delicious food has always been at the centre of the recipes she creates. And for Karen, this also applies to her own meal-planning repertoire at home: she’ll avoid buying processed products, instead incorporating fresh wholefoods where she can.

Lara Carlucci Editorial Assistant

Lara is an Editorial Assistant to Managing Food Editor Karen Buckley for New Idea, New Idea Food, Woman’s Day, Take 5, and That’s Life, and an Assistant and Writer for Diabetic Living. With a Bachelor of Media (Communications & Journalism), a Bachelor of Arts, and a Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours), she’s always nurtured a passion and love for writing in whatever form it takes, wanting to share stories that matter. Food is her second love: shaped by her Italian heritage, and the countless large family gatherings that are always comprised of wholesome, generous meals prepared by loved ones. If not around the banquet table, she’ll take every opportunity to sample Sydney’s endless supply of cuisines – having visited over 70 food joints in the last year alone!