Homemade beefaroni is the perfect alternative to the usual casserole dish for busy weeknights. It’s one of our favorite low-cost meals for the entire family and uses just 3 main ingredients that are all pantry staples.

I’m going to show you how to make this childhood classic. This easy homemade beefaroni takes just 15 minutes to make. Just one bite, and you’ll realize it is so much better than the chef Boyardee beefaroni canned stuff you ate as a kid.

The best part is that it only costs about $1.50 per serving and makes a complete meal!

Jump to:

• What is beefaroni?
• What’s in this
• How to make it
• Substitutions and variations
• Common questions
• More ground beef recipes
• Comments

What is beefaroni?

Some people refer to beefaroni as an American goulash. Homemade beefaroni is one of my favorite things to eat, and it holds a special place in my heart.

This beefaroni dish comes from my Grandmother, and when I was growing up, we always visited my Grandma’s house. We were lucky because she only lived down the street from us.

Our kids love this homemade beefaroni; it is a total comfort food for us. As a bonus, every time they make this recipe, it’s almost like my long-departed grandma gives them a big hug. It can’t get any better than that.

Grandma Zub, Lottie was her first name, but we always referred to her by her last name. She was a very loving person who provided us with many things, including great meals like this homemade beefaroni.

I always thought of her as a gourmet chef, and one of my favorite meals she made was beefaroni. We would always invite ourselves to stay for dinner if we were ever at her house and knew she was making this meal. Grandma never said no.

This is the same beefaroni my grandma made for me.

This low-cost family meal is a lot like the lady my grandma was. Simple, comforting, and as delicious as she was loving.

The recipe I am sharing with you has minimal ingredients, just three. Again, like the lady behind it, you can dress it up with some additions. Either way, it is a surprisingly good meal.

Many people who first see this homemade beefaroni recipe discount it as a kids’ meal.  Kids indeed love this beefaroni, but I think you’ll be surprised at how much you will like it too!

What’s in this

How to make it

Unfortunately, my Grandma passed away many years ago, and this meal was lost to me until one day when I wanted to make homemade beefaroni for our kids. So, I called my mother and asked her if she remembered when Grandma used to make this for us.

She, of course, remembered and asked why I was wondering. I told her I wanted to try and make it and asked her how to make Grandma’s homemade beefaroni. I had a pencil and paper ready to take down every ingredient.  Mom laughed at the idea that I was so excited about this recipe.

I was hoping that I could recreate my childhood memories for my children.  She took a deep breath and began the list. “One pound of ground beef,” she said.  Quickly I jotted this down.

“OK,” I responded as if I were a newspaper reporter getting an exclusive story. “Next,” she said, “One family-sized can of Campbell’s tomato soup.” “Interesting,” I responded.  “What next?” I asked.

“That’s it,” she stated. “That’s it?” I responded, puzzled.

1. Start by preparing a 12-ounce bag of egg noodles al dente.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown 1 pound of hamburger. Don’t use overly lean ground beef, or it will be too dry. We like to use a blend of 80% lean and 20% fat.
3. Add a family-size can of Campbell’s Cream of Tomato Soup. You can use two regular-sized cans if you don’t have a family-size can.
4. Use a large wooden spoon to stir the beef and tomato soup together.

I learned from my mom that my Grandmother cooked for convenience. That gourmet chef was more like Rachel Ray before  Rachel Ray was even born.  Grandma liked to make easy family meals.

She had eight children to care for.  The last thing she wanted to do was spend the entire day in the kitchen. So, this quick family recipe was created for this purpose.

This homemade beefaroni is an easy meal that can be put together on a work and school night with no problem. It has quickly become my children’s favorite meal, and they think I slaved in the kitchen making this for them. This will also keep well in an airtight container or freezer bag so you can pull it out on a chilly night.

It makes me smile knowing that I am giving them the same memories I had with my Grandmother. Our boys can make this homemade beefaroni on their own now; it’s that simple to put together. Maybe one day, they will make it for their kids.

Substitutions and variations

If you want to add a little flair to this homemade beefaroni, toss in some of the following!

1. Add vegetables such as diced bell peppers, diced onion, and mushrooms to the dish for a more flavorful and nutritious meal.
2. Instead of ground beef, use an equal amount of ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version of this homemade beefaroni.
3. Use a different type of pasta, such as penne or rigatoni, in place of elbow macaroni.
4. Try various types of tomato sauce. Some examples might be marinara or arrabbiata for a whole different twist of flavor.
5. Throw some cheese into the mix. Sprinkle a handful of shredded cheese on top of each serving or stir a cup into the pot before serving. Sharp cheddar or Parmesan cheese always taste good with this beefaroni recipe.
6. Give the dish an Italian twist by adding a sprinkle of Italian seasoning or by stirring in a can of diced tomatoes with Italian herbs. Fresh basil and fresh parsley are also good in this homemade beefaroni.
7. Add some spice by tossing in a pinch of red pepper flakes or diced jalapenos to the sauce.

Try some of these suggestions to jazz up this homemade beefaroni and turn it into a spectacular dish!

Common questions

This homemade beefaroni may sound like a kid’s recipe, but adults also love it. Do yourself a favor one of these evenings and try it. I can’t wait to hear how you like it!

More ground beef recipes

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Updated from the original post of January 20, 2014