Description

Beef and Macaroni is a pasta dish made with seasoned ground beef and macaroni pasta cooked in a flavorful tomato-based sauce that’s made with simple ingredients. It’s a one-pot meal that’s easy, budget friendly, and will please the whole family.

Ingredients

Scale

1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 medium onion, finely diced
3–4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 14.5 ounce cans petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 24 ounce jar meatless pasta sauce
2 cups beef broth
½ tablespoon Worcester sauce
12 ounces elbow macaroni
shredded cheese for serving

Instructions

Step: Heat the oil in a large pot, or deep, large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper, if using.
Step: Arrange the beef in one layer and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir well, arrange in one layer again and cook an additional 1-3 minutes until browned.
Step: Lower the heat to medium and add the onions, cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Step: Next, add the garlic and tomato paste, cook for 1 minute, stir often.
Step: Add the pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth and Worcester sauce to the pot while stirring and gently scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pot.
Step: Raise the heat to high and bring the sauce to a simmer. Then, lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pot and let the sauce simmer for 10-12 minutes to let the flavors develop and come together.
Step: Finally, add the macaroni to the pot, raise the heat to high and let the sauce come back to a simmer. Then, lower the heat to medium to medium-low to keep the sauce simmering, not boiling.
Step: Cover the pot and cook the macaroni in the sauce for 12-15 minutes or until it is tender. Stir the macaroni often (especially in the beginning) because it tends to sink and will stick to the bottom of the pot.
Step: Taste the macaroni and beef and add salt if needed.
Step: Let the beef and macaroni sit in the pot for a few minutes before serving to give the macaroni noodles some time to soak up the tomato sauce. Serve with shredded cheese, or parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

If you do not have elbow macaroni substitute another small pasta shape such as cavatappi, rigatoni, penne, or ziti. Eliminate the crushed red pepper if you do not like spicy food. Use paprika instead of chili powder for a milder dish. Lean ground turkey and chicken broth can be substituted for ground beef and beef broth.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 515 kcal
Sugar: 13 g
Sodium: 1311 mg
Fat: 19 g
Saturated Fat: 6 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 1 g
Carbohydrates: 62 g
Fiber: 7 g
Protein: 25 g
Cholesterol: 54 mg

Keywords: beef and macaroni, one-pot pasta, ground beef, family dinner, comfort food