This homemade Beefaroni has ground beef and macaroni in a seasoned tomato sauce with cheese! Your family will want this easy dinner recipe every week!
Be sure to try my Ground Beef Casserole recipe next!
Beefaroni
I can’t be trusted around this Beefaroni recipe. The sauce is way too good, and this recipe comes together super fast! My family absolutely loves this one, especially my 7 year old daughter.
I have a feeling that this is going to become a regular in your dinner rotation! Here is what sets this recipe apart from a few others that are similar:
Beefaroni vs. Goulash vs. Hamburger Helper
- Beefaroni: Thicker sauce that includes tomato sauce/paste, a hint of cream, and chopped onions.
- Goulash/American Chops Suey: Includes diced tomatoes, onions, peppers, celery, and no creamy element to the sauce. (It is also a One Pot recipe.)
- Hamburger Helper: No tomato ingredients, slightly thinner sauce, no diced veggies.
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Season the ground beef with salt/pepper and sauté it with diced onions until cooked through. Set aside.
Add butter, garlic, flour, and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add sauce mixture in small splashes. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add cheese and stir to combine. Add ground beef/onions back.
Add cooked macaroni and stir to combine. Serve!
Pro Tips
- Tomato Sauce: I use Hunt’s tomato sauce in this recipe, tomato passata can also be used.
- Tomato Paste: I use tomato paste tubes to measure smaller amounts, you can store the tubes in the fridge for zero waste!
- Cheese: I use Cracker Barrel Sharp Yellow cheese in this. Any fairly soft cheese from a block will melt well, Cheddar Jack is a fun variation to use along with cheddar!
- Grate the cheese from a block as it will melt much better than packaged grated cheese.
- Make sure the base isn’t too hot when you add the cheese, otherwise the dairy can separate and create a grainy consistency.
- Bouillon: A little beef bouillon adds depth of flavor, I use 1/2 tsp Better than Bouillon. This is optional, 1/4 tsp. salt can be used if omitting.
- Pasta: Medium pasta shells, rotini, and bowtie pasta are other great options for this recipe. If you like extra-extra saucy pasta, use just under 1/2 lb.
- Be sure to set a timer when cooking your pasta to avoid overcooking it.
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Leftovers freeze/reheat well.
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- 3-Quart Stainless Steel Sauté Pan– The same size as pictured in this recipe.
- Box cheese grater – Cheese based soups and sauces should always be made with freshly grated/shredded cheese, as it melts much creamier.
- 1 quart measuring cup with a spout– This is what I use to combine the sauce ingredients at the beginning. The spout makes it easy to add it to the roux in small splashes.
- Pasta Strainer– I have this one and love it.
- Measuring Spoons– I have these magnetic ones which stay nice and organized in my utensil drawer.
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Beefaroni
Ingredients
Beefaroni
- 1 lb. ground beef
- Salt/Pepper
- ½ cup yellow onion, diced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- ½ lb. macaroni, equal to 2 cups
Sauce
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 8 oz. tomato sauce
- ½ cup half and half
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon ketchup
- ½ beef bouillon cube, see notes
- ¾ teaspoon EACH: Dried oregano, basil, parsley
Instructions
- Combine sauce ingredients in a large measuring cup with a spout and set aside. Measure remaining ingredients before beginning.
- Season the ground beef with salt/pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Cook and crumble for 3 minutes, then add the onions. Sauté until the beef is cooked through, 5-6 minutes. Drain grease and set aside on a plate.
- Begin boiling a pot of water for the pasta. Add ½ tablespoon salt once a boil is reached.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, flour, and tomato paste and stir to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the sauce mixture (from step 1) in small splashes, stirring continuously. Do this slowly to ensure the roux doesn’t break and that the sauce remains thick.
- Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer, uncovered, while you boil the pasta to al dente, stirring occasionally as it cooks. Drain once cooked.
- Gradually sprinkle the cheese into the sauce, stirring continuously. (Optional: save some to melt on top at the end.)
- Add the ground beef/onions back to the sauce and stir to combine. Stir in the macaroni.
- If desired, sprinkle with remaining cheese and close the lid to allow it to melt. Serve!
Notes
- Tomato Sauce: I use Hunt’s tomato sauce in this recipe, tomato passata can also be used.
- Tomato Paste: I use tomato paste tubes to measure smaller amounts, you can store the tubes in the fridge for zero waste!
- Cheese: I use Cracker Barrel Sharp Yellow cheese in this. Any fairly soft cheese from a block will melt well, Cheddar Jack is a fun variation to use along with cheddar!
- Grate the cheese from a block as it will melt much better than packaged grated cheese.
- Make sure the base isn’t too hot when you add the cheese, otherwise the dairy can separate and create a grainy consistency.
- Bouillon: A little beef bouillon adds depth of flavor, I use 1/2 tsp Better than Bouillon. This is optional, 1/4 tsp. salt can be used if omitting.
- Pasta: Medium pasta shells, rotini, and bowtie pasta are other great options for this recipe. If you like extra-extra saucy pasta, use just under 1/2 lb.
- Be sure to set a timer when cooking your pasta to avoid overcooking it.
Storage:
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Leftovers freeze/reheat well.
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving. There are 6 servings in this recipe.
Made tonight – used GF macaroni, doubled the recipe – delish and tons leftover!
I’m so happy it was a success Sue, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!🩷
Absolutely delicious!! Followed the recipe to a T and wouldn’t change a thing. Another awesome recipe, thank you for being you and sharing! 🙂
I’m sooo happy you loved the Beefaroni Kristen!! I am currently obsessed with this one, so I’m glad you loved it too!!! Thank you for your kind words today, you’re the best! 🙂 -Stephanie
We love this recipe!
Wahooo! That makes me so happy Carrie! Thanks so much!💖
Just made this for my bf & I tonight. It’s SO yummy!! Thank you for sharing. He’s a little bit picky, so when he agreed that it was amazing I knew it was a winner. This will definitely be a staple in our house now. (:
I’m so happy it was a winner Emily, nice work! I love how simple this one is, easy to whip up during a busy weeknight. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖
Great recipe – family loved it! I did have to omit Worcestershire, mustard, ketchup, and bouillon due to allergens, but it was still excellent! Looking forward to making it again!
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and review Courtnie! I’m so happy you all loved it! My daughter is obsessed with this one.💖
Made this for dinner the other night and wow ! Delicious. Left out salt and it was so flavorful. Yummmmmm. Thank You
You’re very welcome Susie, I’m so happy it was a hit! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖
Very delicious!! Added some sliced mushrooms in with the onions and beef…yum. Made on a cool fall day after being outside and it hit the spot!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it with some sliced mushrooms, yummm! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!💖
I like preparing food in bulk for multiple meals. Given what you said about not cooking the cheese at a high temperature, how would this hold up while reheating in batches? Would it become grainy if i reheat it thoroughly the next day?
Hi Betty! This reheats very very well! No worries on that one! ❤️
Gosh, really enjoyed this one. Flavors were right on. A keeper.
Excellent Joyce! I am so happy to hear that! Thank you so much!!! 🙂
Loved this! I hate to say it, I DID eat beefaroni as a kid and although my parents wouldn’t buy it often, I really enjoyed it when they did. But knowing that I can make it myself and put ingredients I trust in it, makes me happy to make it for my own kids (and of course– us parents too). It’s a very simple recipe but has big taste that reminds me of my youth. Gotta love that cheesy, saucy taste!!! Thank you!
I’m so happy you liked it Helena! I love when food brings me back to my childhood, and seeing my daughter eat an enhanced version. Thanks so much for the great review!💖