Description
A comforting and filling one-pot meal combining ground beef and macaroni, ready in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20 preferred)
- 2 cups (200g) elbow macaroni
- 4 cups (950ml) beef broth (homemade or low-sodium store-bought recommended)
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 411g) diced tomatoes
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup (115g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef and cook until softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce, coating the beef mixture evenly, about 2 minutes.
- Pour in beef broth and diced tomatoes with their juices. Stir to combine.
- Add macaroni, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well to submerge the pasta.
- Bring mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover with a lid and simmer, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking, until pasta is tender but not mushy, about 12-15 minutes.
- Remove pot from heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
Keep an eye on the pot and stir occasionally to prevent sticking or burning. If sauce thickens too much before pasta is done, add a splash of broth or water. For creamier texture, add a splash of cream or milk at the end. Variations include adding veggies, swapping cheddar for pepper jack, or using gluten-free pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 1/2 cups per
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: one-pot, beef macaroni, easy dinner, comfort food, quick meal, ground beef recipe, pasta dinner