Description
A hearty, one-pan comfort food dish featuring ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a rich tomato-cheese sauce. This beginner-proof recipe is budget-friendly, pantry-staple based, and ready in about 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 large green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 cups water
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
- 1.5 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- Optional: 2 green onions, sliced for garnish
- Optional: 2 tablespoons sour cream
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Dice onion and bell pepper, mince garlic, and shred cheese.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat if desired, then remove beef from pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, add diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in tomato paste, paprika, and oregano. Cook for 1 minute to toast spices. Add canned tomatoes (with juice) and water, stirring to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Add uncooked elbow macaroni to the skillet. Stir to coat pasta in sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Remove pan from heat. Stir in the cooked beef. Gradually add shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, stirring constantly until melted and creamy.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Serve immediately, topped with green onions or sour cream if desired.
Notes
Shred your own cheese for better melting; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents. Always remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water or milk. This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 500
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: cheesy ground beef goulash, one-pan dinner, easy comfort food, beginner recipe, budget meals, family dinner, ground beef pasta