Description
Beefaroni brings nostalgic comfort straight from childhood memories, blending hearty ground beef with tangy tomato sauce and perfectly cooked pasta. Cheese melts into each bite, creating a warm embrace that connects generations through simple, satisfying home cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
Pasta:
- 1 16-ounce (454 grams) package uncooked elbow macaroni
Dairy and Sauce:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 15-ounce (425 grams) cans tomato sauce
Seasonings:
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fire up the oven to a toasty 350°F, preparing a warm environment for this classic comfort dish.
- Boil a generous pot of water, introducing a pinch of salt. Submerge elbow macaroni and let it dance until tender, roughly 8 minutes. Once cooked, drain and lovingly coat with melted butter.
- Heat a robust skillet over medium-high flames. Crumble ground beef into the pan, breaking it into delicate fragments. Cook until the meat transforms into a rich, golden-brown landscape, then carefully drain any lingering fat.
- Select a spacious casserole dish as your culinary canvas. Layer the buttered macaroni, crumbled beef, zesty tomato sauce, and a generous blanket of Cheddar cheese. Whisper in salt and black pepper, allowing the seasonings to mingle and enhance the flavors.
- Crown the dish with a final sprinkle of Cheddar, creating a golden, cheesy summit. Slide the casserole into the waiting oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes, watching as the cheese transforms into a bubbling, amber masterpiece.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives to create a lighter, healthier version of this classic dish.
- Enhance nutritional value by mixing in diced vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach during the combining step.
- Use whole wheat pasta to boost fiber content and create a more nutritious meal for health-conscious eaters.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like mozzarella, parmesan, or a sharp cheddar to customize the flavor profile and add depth to the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg