Mom's Macaroni Recipe (2024)

Mom’s Macaroni is a comforting stovetop casserole that features macaroni noodles, juicy ground beef, and veggies in a creamy tomato sauce. It’s an easy dinner that everyone will love!

My sister has been raving about this recipe for Mom’s Macaroni that she got from her mother-in-law. It’s been a family favorite in her home for years and I finally decided that I needed to give it a go.

And I’m so glad I did! My mom had a similar recipe that was made with canned tomatoes, ground beef, and macaroni. This recipe is close to that, but with a little more oomph. Everyone that tries it loves it!

This macaroni dish really is like a hug from mom, but in a bowl. It’s a 30-minute meal that’s loaded with flavor.

Why You’ll Love Mom’s Macaroni

• Quick and easy. Just 30 minutes from start to finish.
• Family-friendly. This recipe is so comforting and delicious, you can count on it being a hit with the whole family.
• Complete meal. We’ve got protein, veggies, and carbs all packed into one delicious pasta dish.

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

• Ground Beef: I recommend a leaner ground beef so the pasta isn’t too oily. Otherwise, you may want to drain any excess grease off before you combine it with the other ingredients.
• Veggies: We’re using a combination of sweet onion, mushrooms, and green pepper.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a salty, umami flavor.
• Stewed Tomatoes: The base for our creamy tomato sauce.
• Seasonings: A perfect combination of dried basil, dried oregano, and dried parsley.
• Milk: Whatever milk you have in your fridge will work great.
• Cheez Whiz: Cheez whiz adds just the right amount of cheesiness to the pasta.
• Pasta: I like to use classic macaroni noodles in this recipe.

How to Make Mom’s Macaroni

This stovetop macaroni casserole is ready to serve in no more than 30 minutes!

• Step One: In a large frying pan, combine the veggies, Worcestershire sauce, and beef. Sauté until the beef is cooked through.
• Step Two: In a pot over medium-low heat, heat the stewed tomatoes and add in the basil, oregano, and parsley.
• Step Three: Cook the macaroni according to package directions, then drain. Add the Cheez Whiz and milk, then stir in the beef and tomato mixtures. Stir to combine, season with salt and pepper, then enjoy.

Equipment Needed

These tools will help you make the recipe.

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• Frying pan
• Colander
• Small pot
• Measuring cups

What to Serve with Mom’s Macaroni

Mom’s macaroni is a complete meal on its own, so if you’re keeping dinner extra simple, feel free to serve it alone!

If you are trying to bulk your meal up a bit more, here are some side dish ideas:

• Garlic Bread
• Roasted Asparagus
• Simple Side Salad
• Parmesan Roasted Carrots

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Chop the veggies small and evenly. We want everything to be pretty uniform in size so you get a little bit of everything in each bite.
• Check the beef temp. To make sure your beef is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. It should be 165ºF.
• Season to taste before serving. I recommend starting with less, then adding more after all of the ingredients are added. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out.

Variations and Substitutions

• Use another pasta shape. Macaroni pasta is delicious, but you can really use any small pasta shape you prefer.
• Add other veggies. Feel free to cook other veggies right along with the onion, mushroom, and pepper. Try it with broccoli florets, peas, spinach, zucchini, you name it.
• Swap the meat. Try switching things up and using ground chicken or turkey in place of the ground beef.
• Make it vegetarian. Simply leave out the meat or use a meatless variety of ground beef.

Storage Instructions

Leftover pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply warm on low on the stove or in the microwave until heated through.

Can this be frozen?

I don’t recommend it. Pasta doesn’t freeze well and a creamy sauce can separate when thawed.

What Cheese is Best for Mac and Cheese?

That totally depends on what you’re going for. This macaroni recipe isn’t quite mac and cheese. It’s a tomato-based sauce that’s made cheesy with the addition of Cheez Whiz—and it’s so good!

Can You Cook Macaroni with Milk Instead of Water?

You can, but I don’t find it necessary for this recipe. Rather than cooking the macaroni in milk and draining that out, I like to take the more economical route and cook it in water. The milk is incorporated into the sauce later on for ultimate creaminess!

Macaroni Recipes

You might also like these macaroni recipes.

• –Creamy, cheesy with a bit of a kick! This recipe will easily become a family favourite.
• Chili Macaroni –Simple to make and so delicious to eat! This hearty comfort food will become a new family fave.
• –Creamy, cheesy and absolutely delicious! If you haven’t added pumpkin to your mac and cheese, you are missing out.
• Stovetop Mac and Cheese –So good you’ll never want the boxed stuff again!
• Mac and Cheese Cups – Cheesy and bite sized appetizers made in a mini muffin pan.

You’ll also like these Slow Cooker Classic Stuffed Shells.

Follow me on Instagram@simplystacieblog, Facebook atSimply Stacie, TikTok@simplystacierecipesor Pinterest at@simplystacieand let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.

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