If you are looking for something quick and easy to make or you are on a budget, Herbed Beef and Macaroni is the ideal meal to cook and also, delicious.
I grew up with my mum cooking this, and it was one of the first meals I cooked once I was living on my own.
Now I cook it for my own family, and when my kids ask what for dinner, and I tell them Herbed Beef and Macaroni, they get excited.
It is so easy to make, and you can either cook it on the stove or slow cook it, depending on how your day is planned out.
How long can you keep Herbed Beef and Macaroni for?
In the fridge, you can keep your already cooked Herbed Beef and Macaroni for a couple of days, so long as it is kept in an airtight container.
And it makes for an excellent lunch for work or home the next day.
Kept in an airtight container you can freeze your Herbed Beef and Macaroni for up to three months. But freeze it without the macaroni in it, as pasta is much better to have freshly cooked.
This makes for great individual meals if you are cooking for one or you want to be able to prepare a bulk amount for the family to have in the future.
Do I have to use Minced Beef?
If you want to change things up a bit, you can always use, mince lamb, chicken or pork instead of the beef. If you do change the meat, you may want to change what stock you use, as it is good to match the right stock with the right meat to get the best taste.
Beef - beef stock, Chicken Stock
Chicken - chicken stock or vegetable stock
Pork - Chicken or vegetable stock
And if you are a person that does not eat meat, not to worry, you too can make this for yourself or family using a Plant-based mince, along with using vegetable stock, removing the bacon and using eggless pasta.
Doing this will make this meal perfect for Vegetarians/Vegans.
What if I don't want to use Italian Mixed Herbs?
You can use the standard mixed herbs instead, or you can create a mix of your favourite herbs to put into the meal.
If you are not sure what herbs will go with Herbed Beef and Macaroni or another type of minced meat you are using, have a read through my article "Top 10 Essential Cooking Herbs For Your Kitchen", to get a few ideas.
Can I use other types of pasta instead of macaroni?
I do not always use macaroni; there are times when my kids ask for a different type of pasta.
Other pasta types that will work with this meal are spiral, Farfalle (bow pasta), or as my children like to call them, butterfly pasta, Penne, and Rigatoni, to name a few.
How to cook Herbed Beef and Marconi on the Stovetop?
If you want to cook on the stovetop instead of a slow cooker, please follow the additional steps below. And it will take approximately 25 to 30 minutes to cook.
Step 1. Saute your bacon pieces and onion, until the onion becomes translucent.
Step 2. Add the mince and brown.
Step 3. Add the rest of the ingredients that are in the main recipe below. Bring to a boil while stirring, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and stir occasionally.
Step 4. Cook your macaroni or other preferred pasta as directed on the packet, while the meat mixture is simmering.
Step 5. Drain pasta and add to the meat sauce and stir through, so everything combines. Then serve.
Delicious Herbed Beef and Macaroni, The Whole Family Will Love
Equipment
Ingredients
- 500 g Minced Beef
- 1 Medium Onion Diced
- 125 g Bacon Diced
- 1 Garlic Clove Crushed
- 1 cup Water
- 1 Beef Stock Cube
- 425 g Tin Tomato Soup
- ½ teaspoon Italian Herbs
- ½ tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 500 g Macaroni
Instructions
- Dice the onion and bacon and add to your slow cooker, along with your crushed garlic.
- Seperate the miced beef as much as possable and put it in the slow cooker.
- Put 1 cup of water into a small bowl and add the stock cube. Dissove the stock cube in the water and then add to the rest of the ingridience in the slow cooker.
- Add the tin of condenced tomato soup, herbs and balsamic vinager. Season with a little salt and peper, then stir evrything until all the ingregience are mixed
- Put the lid on your slow cooker and set to cook on low for 6 hours.
- About 20 minutes before the mince mixture is finished cooking, cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the packet.Once the macaroni is cooked and your slow cooker has finshed, drain your pasta and then add to the slow cooker and mix through.
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