By Laurel Perry
Updated Jun 12, 2025
This one-pot recipe is so easy to make, with just a few steps and simple pantry ingredients. It’s such a cozy weeknight dinner, and the kids get so excited when they see it on the table! I’ve elevated a classic favorite for a beefier, saucier beefaroni casserole that my family loves.
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This homemade beefaroni recipe with ground beef, macaroni, and the most deliciously seasoned tomato sauce fills me with so much nostalgia! Growing up, I loved coming home from school and heating a can of beefaroni…there was just something about that sauce that was so comforting! I want my kids to enjoy the same delicious food that brings me so much nostalgia, but of course, I want to make it even better for them, so I created this deliciously easy and simple homemade recipe.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound ground beef use an 80% or 85% hamburger meat ratio
- ▢ 1 small yellow onion diced, white also works
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves minced, or to taste
- ▢ 2 cups low sodium beef broth
- ▢ 28 ounces tomato sauce (1 can)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ▢ 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground paprika chili seasoning would be a great addition
- ▢ ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
- ▢ 1 cup dry elbow macaroni any short shaped pasta such as ditalini, cavatelli, or shells will work
- ▢ 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish
Video
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onion. Cook, breaking up the meat, until the beef is browned and the onion is translucent. Add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Drain off excess fat if needed. 1 pound ground beef, 1 small yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves
- To the skillet, stir in the beef broth, tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper. 2 cups low sodium beef broth, 28 ounces tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce, ½ teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the pasta, cover and cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente, about 12-15 minutes. 1 cup dry elbow macaroni
- Garnish with parsley and serve. 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
Becky’s Tips
- Don’t skip simmering the sauce before adding the pasta—this develops the flavors!
- Sometimes I like to make this beefaroni recipe nice and cheesy by stirring in freshly-shredded cheese just before serving.
- Grab pre-diced onions and minced garlic at the grocery store to speed up prep time.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Beefaroni Step by Step
Cook ground beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add 1 pound of ground beef and 1 diced yellow onion. Cook the mixture, breaking up the beef, until it is browned and the onion is translucent. Add in 2 minced garlic cloves, and cook for 1 more minute (or until fragrant). Drain off excess fat from the beef, if needed, before moving to the next step.
Make tomato sauce: To the skillet, stir in 2 cups of low-sodium beef broth, 28 ounces of tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire Sauce, ½ teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, then cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.
Add macaroni: Stir in 1 cup of dry elbow macaroni, then cover and cook (stirring often) until the pasta is al dente (softened to bite, but not too soft or soggy). This should take about 12-15 minutes.
Garnish and serve: Garnish the finished beefaroni with 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh parsley if desired, then serve hot!
How to Store
Store homemade beefaroni in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring until fully warmed through. Thaw first if frozen.
Serving Suggestions
This super easy recipe makes a nice and filling one-dish meal, so I usually just serve it with some bread. cheesy Texas toast matches the slightly garlic-y flavor, and it cooks in the oven while the beefaroni is simmering on the stovetop. Buttery corn on the cob is a fun side dish too!
more beef and pasta recipes we love
Goulash (American Style) Recipe
Hamburger Helper
Loaded Chili Mac and Cheese
Hamburger Casserole Recipe
Homemade Beefaroni Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef use an 80% or 85% hamburger meat ratio
- 1 small yellow onion diced, white also works
- 2 garlic cloves minced, or to taste
- 2 cups low sodium beef broth
- 28 ounces tomato sauce (1 can)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ teaspoon ground paprika chili seasoning would be a great addition
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
- 1 cup dry elbow macaroni any short shaped pasta such as ditalini, cavatelli, or shells will work
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onion. Cook, breaking up the meat, until the beef is browned and the onion is translucent. Add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Drain off excess fat if needed. 1 pound ground beef, 1 small yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves
- To the skillet, stir in the beef broth, tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper. 2 cups low sodium beef broth, 28 ounces tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce, ½ teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the pasta, cover and cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente, about 12-15 minutes. 1 cup dry elbow macaroni
- Garnish with parsley and serve. 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
Video
Notes
- Don’t skip simmering the sauce before adding the pasta—this develops the flavors!
- Sometimes I like to make this beefaroni recipe nice and cheesy by stirring in freshly-shredded cheese just before serving.
- Grab pre-diced onions and minced garlic at the grocery store to speed up prep time.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
