Description
Hearty homemade beefaroni delivers comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending rich beef and tender pasta in a nostalgic embrace. Savory sauce and perfectly cooked noodles ensure you’ll crave this classic comfort meal again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
- 1 cup (100g) shredded cheddar cheese
Pasta and Base Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340g) elbow macaroni
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) beef broth
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup (15g) chopped fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a pot of salted water and cook elbow macaroni until tender, ensuring a slight firmness. Once cooked, carefully drain and reserve.
- Select a robust skillet and heat it to medium-high. Crumble ground beef into the pan, breaking it into small fragments while cooking until a rich, caramel-brown color develops.
- Introduce finely chopped onions and minced garlic to the sizzling beef. Sauté until vegetables become translucent and release their aromatic essence. Eliminate any accumulated grease.
- Craft a robust sauce by incorporating tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, concentrated tomato paste, savory beef broth, tangy Worcestershire sauce, aromatic Italian seasoning, smoky paprika, salt, and freshly ground pepper.
- Allow the sauce to simmer gently, permitting flavors to intertwine and develop depth for approximately 10 minutes.
- Fold the previously prepared macaroni into the hearty meat mixture, ensuring each pasta piece becomes generously coated with the savory sauce.
- Sprinkle a generous layer of sharp cheddar cheese across the surface. Cover the skillet and reduce heat, allowing cheese to melt into a creamy blanket.
- Remove from heat, let rest momentarily, then serve steaming hot. Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant touch.
Notes
- Customize texture by adjusting pasta cooking time for softer or firmer macaroni depending on personal preference.
- Reduce fat content by using lean ground beef or ground turkey as a healthier protein alternative.
- Enhance flavor depth by adding a splash of red wine or a dash of smoked paprika during sauce simmering stage.
- Make this dish gluten-free by substituting regular macaroni with certified gluten-free pasta options like chickpea or rice-based noodles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 75mg