Homemade Beefaroni
Beefaroni is one of those meals almost everyone remembers. It showed up on busy nights, filled bellies, and did its job. But at some point, it turned into something you only buy in a can — overly sweet, overprocessed, and nothing like the real thing.
This homemade beefaroni brings it back to basics. Simple pantry ingredients, one pot, and a dinner that actually tastes like food.
It’s hearty, comforting, and practical — the kind of meal that stretches a pound of beef, feeds a family, and reheats well the next day. No boxed mixes, no shortcuts, just a solid from-scratch recipe you can make anytime.
Watch the Full Cooking Video
I walk through this recipe step by step in the video below, showing how everything comes together in one pan:
Homemade Beefaroni Recipe
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 onion, diced
3 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp tomato paste
2 cups beef broth
8 oz tomato sauce
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp ketchup
3/4 tsp each oregano, parsley, and basil
8 oz uncooked macaroni
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
In a large skillet or deep pan, cook the ground beef and onion together until browned. Drain excess grease.
Add butter to the pan and let it melt. Stir in the flour and tomato paste; cook for a few minutes until fragrant.
Pour in the beef broth and bring to a boil, stirring to smooth the sauce.
Stir in the tomato sauce, milk, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, ketchup, and seasonings.
Add uncooked macaroni, cover, and simmer until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
Serve hot.
A Good Meal Doesn’t Need a Box
This recipe is rich without being heavy, savory instead of sweet, and made with ingredients you likely already have on hand. It’s proof that classic comfort food doesn’t need to come from a factory to be convenient — just a little intention and a single pan.
If you make this, let me know how it turns out — and if you’re trying to move away from boxed dinners, this is a good place to start.
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Prissmel Acres