Description
Hearty homemade beefaroni recipe brings classic comfort to dinner tables across America. Rich pasta and ground beef mingle with zesty tomato sauce, creating a nostalgic meal families will crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 12 oz (340g) elbow macaroni
- 1 can (15 oz/425g) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz/411g) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup (240 milliliters/8 fl oz) beef broth
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup (100g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup (15g) chopped fresh parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil pasta in generously salted water until al dente, then drain and reserve in a separate container.
- Meat Foundation: In a large skillet, sear ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking into fine crumbles. Introduce diced onions and minced garlic, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and aromatic.
- Sauce Construction: Blend tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and beef broth into the meat mixture. Elevate flavor complexity by incorporating Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Flavor Intensification: Simmer sauce gently, allowing ingredients to marry and reduce, concentrating the robust taste and creating a thick, luxurious consistency.
- Pasta Integration: Gently combine cooked macaroni with meat sauce, ensuring thorough coating and perfect flavor distribution. Sprinkle sharp cheddar cheese across the surface, covering skillet to facilitate complete cheese melting.
- Final Presentation: Transfer beefaroni to serving plates, optionally garnishing with fresh parsley for vibrant color and herbal notes. Serve immediately while steaming hot for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook macaroni just until al dente to prevent mushiness, as overcooked pasta will absorb too much sauce and become soggy.
- Meat Browning Technique: Ensure ground beef is browned at high heat to develop deep caramelization and maximize flavor, breaking meat into small, uniform crumbles.
- Sauce Consistency Control: Simmer sauce uncovered to allow natural reduction, creating a thick, clingy texture that perfectly coats pasta without becoming watery.
- Cheese Melting Hack: Remove skillet from heat when adding cheese to prevent separation, letting residual warmth melt it smoothly and maintain creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg