Slow cooker beef macaroni is a hearty, one-pot comfort dish made with minced beef, pasta, and a rich tomato-based sauce that slowly cooks into a thick, flavorful meal.Here’s an easy homemade version:
🍝 Slow Cooker Beef Macaroni
🧾 Ingredients
- 500 g ground beef (minced)
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 2–3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 can (400 g) diced tomatoes or tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups beef broth or water
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika or chili powder (optional)
- 1 tsp Italian herbs or oregano
- 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella, optional)
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Brown the beef
- In a pan, cook ground beef with onion and garlic until browned.
- Drain excess fat (important for a cleaner sauce).
2. Slow cook the sauce
- Add beef mixture to slow cooker.
- Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, and seasonings.
- Mix well.
- Cook on:
- LOW: 6–7 hours or
- HIGH: 3–4 hours
This builds deep, rich flavor.
3. Add macaroni
- About 30–40 minutes before serving, stir in uncooked macaroni.
- Make sure pasta is submerged in liquid.
- Cook until pasta is tender.
4. Finish it
- Stir well.
- Add cheese if using and let it melt into the sauce.
- Taste and adjust salt/pepper.
🍽️ Serving ideas
- Sprinkle extra cheese on top 🧀
- Serve with garlic bread or simple salad
- Add chili flakes for heat
🔥 Tips
- Don’t add pasta too early or it will become mushy.
- If sauce gets too thick, add a little hot water or broth.
- You can swap beef with chicken or lentils for variation.
If you want, I can also give you:
- a no-slow-cooker stovetop version (30 minutes)
- a creamy white sauce macaroni version
- or a spicy Pakistani-style masala twist
