Instructions
Heat oil in a dutch oven or large deep skillet over medium high heat.
Add onion and garlic, cook 1 minute.
Add celery and carrot, cook 3 minutes until soft.
Increase heat to high and add beef. Cook, breaking it up as you go, until no longer pink – 3 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT cheese. Stir to combine, add macaroni, then turn down to medium or medium low so it’s simmering gently.
Cover, cook 8 minutes. Pasta should be just about cooked, and still nice and saucy.
Add cheddar cheese, stir. Top with mozzarella cheese.
Cover with lid, cook for a further 2 minutes.
Remove from stove. The pasta should now be cooked – tender but firm, not mushy, slick with sauce, not dried out.
Serve immediately, garnished with green onions, if using.
Recipe Notes:
* These are optional. Can also add more diced vegetables of choice – or even reduce pasta and add even more veg.
1. American chili powder is a combination of spices, not just chilli. I always bring some back with me! Sub as follows: 1/4 tsp each paprika, cumin, coriander plus pinch of cayenne.
2. Cheese – You can substitute with other cheeses that melt but be sure to use a flavoured cheese, not a mild flavoured cheese like mozzarella. The cheese is required for flavouring in this recipe.
3. Storage – As with all pastas, the sauce tends to get sucked up by the pasta so it’s not as saucy. But this reheats very well – I just microwave. Haven’t tried freezing but I see no reason why it wouldn’t freeze well.
Make ahead idea – make the beef and add all the liquids. Then store until required and on the day of, reheat the beef/liquid, add pasta and cook per recipe.
4. Source: My good friend Jo from Jo Cooks, it’s one of many fabulous one pot recipes in her cookbook, 30 Minute One Pot Meals. Ever so slightly amended.
5. Nutrition per serving
Nutrition Information:
Serving:456gCalories:693cal (35%)Carbohydrates:63.3g (21%)Protein:51.5g (103%)Fat:25.4g (39%)Saturated Fat:12.5g (78%)Polyunsaturated Fat:12.9gCholesterol:129mg (43%)Sodium:748mg (33%)Fiber:4.9g (20%)Sugar:7.7g (9%)
