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Up close shot of My Childhood Homemade Beefaroni in a bowl with a fork.

My Childhood Homemade Beefaroni

Shanika
This Homemade Beefaroni is a cheesy, comforting pasta bake made with ground turkey or beef, marinara, and melty cheddar + mozzarella.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

BEEFARONI:

  • 2 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb. organic 94% lean ground turkey (You can also use ground beef)
  • 8 oz. ziti pasta
  • 1 onion, chopped (You can use yellow or white)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 Tbsps tomato paste
  • 2 tsps smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 (24 oz.) jar premium marinara sauce
  • 3 Tbsps white cooking wine (You can substitute with chicken or beef stock)
  • 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional)

Instructions
 

BOIL THE PASTA:

  • Cook pasta according to packaging. NOTE: most short cut pastas cook about the same time as other pastas, usually 8-12 minutes, depending on brand.

SAUTE THE MEAT:

  • In a medium deep skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and let it heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped onions and sauté until fragrant and translucent, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Add the ground meat, stirring until the turkey meat has browned, about 8-10 minutes-----breaking up the meat using a wooden spoon as your stir. Add the smoked paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt, stirring to combine.-----stirring until combined and coats the meat.
  • Stir in the tomato paste followed by the Marinara sauce, and white cooking wine, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer, stirring occasionally until sauce begins to thicken slightly, about 10-15 minutes. Add in the cooked ziti and stir to incorporate. NOTE: You can add additional ¼ cup of liquid stock to sauce to make it more "saucy", if desired.
  • Add in the Sharp cheddar and Mozzarella cheese, stirring until combined and melted.
  • Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. To re-heat, simply heat in the oven for the best results or microwave for a minute or two until heated through. 
  • DARIY-FREE, VEGAN, MAKE AHEAD + MORE OPTIONS: See FAQ section for details!
Keyword beef, childhood, dinner, easy, family-friendly, kid-friendly, lunch, pasta, stovetop, tomato, turkey meat, weeknight, weeknight meals
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