Beefaroni

Beefaroni

Beefaroni is a staple in our home. Kevin loves Beefaroni probably more than any of us and requests it quite often. This meal is the true definition of a comfort meal. It's simple, cheesy, tender, and full of flavor. 

The pasta was perfectly cooked and tender, the cheese was stringy and gooey, and the ground beef was soaked in the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Top it off with some Italian seasoning and you have the perfect dinnertime meal.

Beefaroni in a yellow bowl, ready to eat.
Hearty homemade Beefaroni served in a warm bowl — cheesy, saucy, and full of flavor.

• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Serving size: 5-7
• Total cook time: 20-30 minutes
• Total prep time: 5-10 minutes
• Family friendly: YES! All 3 of us love this meal
• Rating: 9/10

Why You Will Love This Beefaroni

This pasta recipe is super simple because you only need one pot to cook the macaroni and one pan to cook the beefaroni so clean-up is a breeze! The ingredient list may look intimidating but it's really not. The meal itself is really easy to make once you gather all of the ingredients. With less than 30 minutes to make this comfort dish, you will want to add this to your weekly meal plan. 

What Makes This Recipe Different?

I used Monkfruit sweetener in place of sugar for a healthier alternative. Once the Beefaroni was done and ready to serve, we topped ours with more cheese and Italian seasoning to add a flavorful, melty, cheesy flare. 

Pro Tips

• Gather all of your ingredients beforehand so you have everything ready once the noodles are cooked
• If you want more ground beef and less pasta in the recipe, remove one cup of the pasta noodles from the ingredient list

Inspiration

This recipe was inspired by Insanely Good Recipes. We doubled the noodles from the original recipe, used beef broth and water combined, used 1/8 cup shredded mozzarella cheese instead of 1/4, used Monkfruit sweetener instead of sugar, and topped with more cheese. We omitted the salt because I never use salt in our recipes. 

If You Enjoy Pasta Recipes, You May Also Like

How to Store

Store the pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave for two minutes, or until warm.

Adjust to Your Liking

  • Feel free to swap out olive oil for vegetable oil like we did
  • For the ground beef, we chose 80/20 but you can use any type
  • Although we used mild cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, you can customize to your liking - you can swap out for parmesan, taco cheese mix, or even a three or four cheese blend

Ingredients for Beefaroni

*This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase using any of my links. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

  • *4 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 15oz can tomato sauce
  • *1/2 cup beef broth + 1/2 cup water
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • *2 tsp monkfruit sweetener
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
  • 1/8 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
    Ingredients for Beefaroni laid out on a countertop.
    Simple ingredients for the perfect Beefaroni — ground beef, cheese, pasta, and seasonings.

    How to Make Beefaroni

    ✓ Step #1: Cook macaroni - In a large pot, cook pasta al dente, 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions and drain. Set aside. 

    ✓ Step #2: Gather your seasonings - In a small bowl, add black pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika and Monk fruit and set aside.

    Seasonings for Beefaroni.
    A blend of Italian herbs, paprika, and monkfruit sweetener adds depth to the sauce.

    ✓ Step #3: Heat oil over medium heat – Add a pan to the stove and turn it on medium heat. Add 1 tbsp vegetable oil followed by onion powder and garlic powder for 20-30 seconds. 

    ✓ Step #4: Add ground beef – After 20-30 seconds, add ground beef to the pan. Use a spatula to break apart and cook 6-8 minutes in the garlic and onion powder, until browned. Drain if needed.

    ✓ Step #5: Add in sauces and seasonings – In the pan, stir in tomato sauce, beef broth and water. Add in your bowl of seasonings along with Worcestershire sauce. Turn heat to high until it boils. Turn to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

    Ingredients for Beefaroni in a pan, ready to stir.
    The Beefaroni sauce simmering together for a rich, flavorful base.

    ✓ Step #6: Stir in noodles and cheese – After 10 minutes, stir in cooked macaroni pasta noodles and cheese until combined. Serve immediately. Top with more cheese and seasonings if desired.

    Adding cheese and pasta in a pan to make Beefaroni.
    Mixing in cheese and pasta for a creamy, cheesy finish.

    Beefaroni in a pan, ready to add to bowls.
    Finished Beefaroni ready to serve — the ultimate comfort meal in one pan.

    What Did You Think?

    Did you make this Beefaroni pasta dish like we did? Did you enjoy it?

    How You Can Support Savvy with Abbie

    ✓ Pin this recipe on Pinterest

    ✓ Comment below and let me know if you made this recipe

    ✓ Review/rate the recipe below so others can see what you thought of it

    ✓ Follow this blog for more amazing pasta recipes

    Comments

    Post a Comment

    Popular Posts

    Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup with Bacon & Cream Cheese (Perfect for Fall & Winter)

    Image
    Slow Cooker Potato Soup Recipe With Fall and Winter quickly approaching, there’s nothing better than a warm, comforting bowl of creamy crockpot soup. This easy slow cooker potato soup with bacon is an easy recipe and uses simple ingredients like frozen hash browns, bacon bits, and cream cheese. This slow cooker potato soup recipe is kid-friendly, easy to customize, and perfect for busy weeknights or those cool, rainy days. Here's What Some Readers Had to Say "Just wanted to let you know that this is my family's favorite potato soup recipe!" "I have been cooking and taking meals to my in-laws on the weekends for awhile now. This was an easy recipe to make and take - travels well. It hits the spot - delicious, creamy, cheesy, and comforting. They appreciated it. I now have a go-to potato soup recipe! Thank you, Pam" "It looks good enough...lovely recipe share" Warm, creamy slow cooker potato soup with bacon - the perfect comfort food fo...
    Read more

    In-N-Out Double-Double Animal Style Burger Recipe (No Onions)

    Image
    In and Out Double-Double Animal Style Burger Copycat  From the first bite, all I could say was "Wow!" If you have been to In-N-Out, this recipe is as close to the real deal as you can get. Between the acidity in the sauce, the super juicy beef patties, refreshing lettuce, and cheesy patties, you will be wanting more! It blew my mind how much it tasted like the real thing.  We have a family of three and we each had our own version of this copycat recipe. I had a single patty, Kevin had our homemade version of the Double-Double Animal Style burger (without onions) and Jace had a double without the sauce. The burger was so juicy, the meat was perfectly cooked, it was one of those things where I took my first bite and my eyes closed and I just savored the first bite. Juicy, cheesy Double-Double Animal Style burger sliced in half - the perfect In-N-Out copycat. • Difficulty Level:  Intermediate • Serving size:  3 burgers • Total prep time: 10 minutes • Total cook time: ...
    Read more

    Easy Homemade Hamburger Helper – Better Than the Box!

    Image
    Homemade Hamburger Helper Kevin (my fiancé) loves homemade hamburger helper and this recipe tasted way better than any boxed hamburger helper out there. Hamburger helper is nostalgic for me though. Growing up in the 90's, I do remember having it every once in awhile. Homemade is always a better choice, though. This recipe is easy to whip up in one pan, making cleanup simple and dinner fast. This homemade hamburger helper combined creamy cheese, with tender pasta, and had great seasoning choices which included onion powder, garlic powder, and chili powder for a little kick. It was flavorful, and really good, with Jace and I both rating it an 8/10 and wanting to make it again. Homemade Hamburger Helper in bowls with cheese and pasta, ready to eat. • Difficulty Level: Easy • Serving size: 5 • Total cook time: 20–25 minutes • Family friendly: Yes, all three of us enjoyed it and we had leftovers! Why You Will Love This Homemade Hamburger Helper No...
    Read more