Description
A comforting and easy homemade one pot beefaroni recipe featuring ground beef, ziti pasta, and a rich tomato sauce, perfect for a quick family dinner.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 Yellow Onion, Diced
- 4-5 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 24 oz Jar of Spaghetti Sauce
- 8 oz Ziti Pasta
- 2.5 cups Beef Broth
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Sugar
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a large pot, brown the ground beef along with the diced yellow onion and minced garlic cloves over medium heat until the beef is fully cooked and the onions are translucent. Drain any excess grease from the pot.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tablespoon of tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Combine Sauce and Seasonings: Pour in the jar of spaghetti sauce and add the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and sugar. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Add Pasta and Broth: Add the ziti pasta and beef broth to the pot. Make sure the pasta is fully submerged in the liquid to cook evenly.
- Simmer the Pasta: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 15 minutes until the pasta is tender.
- Finish with Cream: Stir in the half cup of heavy cream and adjust seasoning to taste if needed. Let the beefaroni simmer uncovered for an additional 15 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Final Seasoning: Taste and add extra salt and pepper if necessary before serving.
Notes
- Double the recipe easily to serve more people, it scales well without loss of flavor.
- Substitute ziti pasta with elbows, rotini, or penne according to preference.
- For extra veggies, stir in frozen peas or corn during the simmering step.
- If beef broth isn’t available, use chicken broth or water with bouillon as alternatives.
- For a cheesy finish, sprinkle shredded mozzarella or cheddar on top before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat gently on the stove or microwave, adding a splash of broth or water if needed to loosen the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
