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Beef Macaroni and Cheese

With thanks to my good friend Scott Williams in the USA.

  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 (32-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce, or homemade sauce
  • 8 ounces macaroni
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  2. Fill a pasta pot with cold water and set on a burner over medium-high heat. When the pasta water comes to a boil, salt the water, stir and taste. It should taste like the sea. Undersalted? Add more. Oversalted? Pour out some water and add fresh water until you get the right balance.
  3. While the water is coming to a boil, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil, onion, bell pepper, and celery. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for about 3 to 4 minutes, until tender.
  4. Add tomato paste and stir to incorporate into the vegetables, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer.
  5. Add the ground beef and season with another pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat, until no longer pink.
  6. Add the spaghetti sauce. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  7. Pour pasta into boiling salted water gradually while stirring the water. When the water returns to a boil, begin the cooking time as directed by the packaging for al dente doneness. Drain.
  8. Add pasta to meat sauce. Stir to blend.
  9. Transfer half of the mixture to a 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish and top with half of the cheese. Add remaining mixture and top with remaining cheese.
  10. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until cheese is melted and the mixture is bubbly.
  11. Recipe Variations:
  12. Add some sliced mushrooms for additional flavor and texture.
  13. Any good marinara or tomato sauce that tastes great with pasta will work.
  14. Substitute ground turkey, pork, or chicken for the beef in this recipe, or create a combination of ground meat. A plant-based ground beef would also work in this recipe.
  15. Use shredded mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or a spicy Monterey Jack cheese instead.
  16. If your spaghetti sauce tastes bland, feel free to add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning to it.
  17. For a crustier top, place the baked casserole under the broiler for a minute or two to get nicely browned bits. However, do not broil the casserole if you are using glass bakeware, as it could crack even if it states that it's oven safe or heat resistant.