Description

Why make a packaged ground beef dinner when you can make one that is just as easy and much more delicious. Serve it with a salad and crusty bread.

Ingredients

• 2 c. dry elbow macaroni or egg noodles
• 1 c. reserved pasta water
• 1 1/2 lb. ground chuck
• 1 1/2 c. chopped or grated onion
• 1 T. minced garlic
• 1 1/2 t. seasoned salt, or to taste
• 1/2 t. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 t. Cajun seasoning or to taste, optional
• 1/2 t. paprika
• 1 1/2 t. dried Italian seasoning
• 2 t. dried parsley
• 2 small bay leaves
• 8 oz. tomato sauce
• 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
• 1 c. beef stock
• pinch granulated sugar, optional
• red pepper flakes, to taste, optional

Steps

1. Cook pasta al dente according to the package directions. When done, reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta; set aside.
2. In a skillet, saute the ground chuck until browned; drain off and discard any excess fat. Add onion and garlic; continue cooking about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add seasoned salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning, paprika, Italian seasoning, parsley, and bay leaves; cook 1 minute. Add tomato sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, beef stock and sugar, scraping up any browned bits in the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to simmer; cover; cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the cooked, drained pasta; simmer until pasta is warmed through and desired consistency is reached, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time, if needed. Add red pepper flakes if using; stir; remove from heat; discard bay leaves.