Cheesy Beef & Mac Skillet

Effortless Weeknight Dinners: Discover One-Pot Mac and Beef and Smart Kitchen Solutions with GE Appliances

Finding the perfect balance between delicious, nutritious, and quick weeknight dinners can often feel like an insurmountable challenge. In our fast-paced lives, coordinating schedules and preparing a meal that satisfies everyone without demanding hours in the kitchen is a common struggle for families everywhere. This article, proudly sponsored by GE Appliances, shares insights and solutions to simplify your dinner routine, including a beloved family recipe that epitomizes convenience and flavor.

The Quest for Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals

If you’re constantly seeking reliable resources for quick and easy dinner solutions, you’re not alone. The good news is, there’s a fantastic hub specifically designed to help busy individuals like you: The Weeknight Kitchen on Food Network, generously sponsored by GE Appliances. This invaluable platform is a treasure trove of culinary wisdom, offering numerous helpful tips and an extensive collection of recipes crafted to save you precious time in the kitchen. From mouth-watering 30-minute meals to delightful dessert recipes, all curated by your favorite Food Network hosts, The Weeknight Kitchen empowers you to create memorable dinners without the stress.

It’s more than just a recipe site; it’s a guide to transforming your evening meal preparation into an enjoyable and efficient experience. You’ll find smart hacks for meal prepping, ingredient substitutions, and clever ways to utilize leftovers, all aimed at streamlining your cooking process. Diving into their content can truly revolutionize how you approach dinner planning and execution, making it easier to serve wholesome meals even on the busiest of days.

Our Family’s Favorite: One Pot Mac and Beef – A True Time-Saver

Speaking of lightning-fast 30-minute meals, I am thrilled to share with you one of our absolute family favorites: One Pot Mac and Beef! This incredible pasta dinner is not only cooked entirely in a single pot, drastically cutting down on cleanup, but it also takes less than thirty minutes from start to finish. This makes it an ideal choice for those hectic weeknights when time is of the essence but you still want a hearty, homemade meal. The beauty of a one-pot meal lies in its simplicity; all the flavors meld together beautifully, and the minimal dishes mean less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your evening with loved ones.

One Pot Mac and Beef: A Recipe for Busy Lives

This One Pot Mac and Beef recipe is a testament to how flavorful and satisfying a simple meal can be. It combines savory ground beef with tender macaroni, vibrant vegetables, and a rich tomato sauce, all simmering together to create a comforting dish that appeals to both kids and adults. The recipe is incredibly forgiving and adaptable, allowing for minor adjustments based on what you have on hand or your family’s preferences. It’s perfect for a cozy family dinner or a quick meal prep for lunches throughout the week.

One Pot Mac and Beef - delicious dinner made all in one pot and in under 30 minutes!

One Pot Mac and Beef

Delicious pasta dinner cooked in one pot in under 30 minutes!

4.84 from 12 votes

Print
Pin

Course: Main
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Jenn

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni I used Hidden Veggie Twisted Elbows
  • 1 small green pepper diced
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 15-oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  • Brown beef in large saucepan over medium heat. Drain and set aside in bowl.
  • In same saucepan, add olive oil and cook onion, pepper and macaroni. Cook until onion and bell pepper begin to soften.
  • Add cooked beef, tomato sauce, water, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Cover and simmer on low for 20-25 minutes or until macaroni is cooked to your preference.
  • Serve in bowls and enjoy! (Makes about 6 servings)
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @JenNikolaus or tag #YummyHealthyEasy!

This dish is incredibly adaptable. Feel free to add a sprinkle of cheddar cheese or your favorite shredded cheese blend at the end for an extra layer of creaminess, or a dash of hot sauce if you prefer a little kick. You can also experiment with different vegetables – perhaps some diced carrots or zucchini could be added alongside the onion and bell pepper for more nutritional value. The key is to embrace the simplicity and enjoy the delicious result that requires minimal effort and maximum satisfaction.

Elevate Your Kitchen with Innovative GE Appliances

Beyond smart recipes like our One Pot Mac and Beef, truly streamlining your kitchen process and making dinner preparation even more efficient comes down to having the right tools. This is where the innovative lineup of GE Appliances truly shines, offering cutting-edge technology designed to simplify your life and elevate your culinary experience. These appliances aren’t just about cooking; they’re about reimagining your kitchen as a hub of efficiency, convenience, and modern living.

The GE Double Oven Range with Tri-Ring Burner

  • When it comes to cooking, heat control is paramount. The GE Double Oven Range, featuring its advanced Tri-Ring Burner, offers unparalleled precision. Whether you need the gentlest simmer for a delicate sauce or an intense, high sear for perfectly browned meats, this range delivers consistent and accurate heat every time. This versatility means you can master a wider range of cooking techniques, ensuring perfection in every dish you prepare. The double oven functionality further enhances efficiency, allowing you to bake or roast at two different temperatures simultaneously, ideal for preparing complex meals or holiday feasts with ease.

The Hands-Free Auto Fill Refrigerator – An Industry First

  • Imagine filling your water glass without pressing a button or holding it in place. The GE Hands-Free Auto Fill Refrigerator is an industry first, intelligently sensing your container and filling it with the precise amount of filtered water automatically. This revolutionary feature is perfect for busy households and makes multitasking in the kitchen genuinely hands-free. No more overflowing cups or juggling items while trying to get a drink – it’s convenience redefined, adding a touch of modern luxury to your daily routine.

The Dishwasher with 102 Jet Wash System

  • The chore of cleaning up after dinner is often the least favorite part of cooking. The only thing worse than pre-washing dishes is having to re-wash them because your dishwasher couldn’t handle the grime. With GE’s Dishwasher featuring an impressive 102 jet wash system, those days are a distant memory. This powerful system uses targeted jets to reach every corner and crevice of your dishes, ensuring a spotless clean every single time. It’s designed to tackle even the toughest baked-on food, virtually eliminating the need for pre-rinsing and ensuring your dishes come out sparkling clean, ready for their next use.

To truly appreciate the engineering and convenience behind these innovations, I highly recommend clicking HERE to see all these innovative GE Appliance machines in action. And to stay consistently up-to-date on all the coolest new appliances, tips, and kitchen inspiration, make sure to follow them on Pinterest.

Rethink Your Routine: More Tips for Seamless Weeknight Meals

Beyond relying on quick recipes and advanced appliances, adopting a few smart habits can further enhance your weeknight dinner experience. Consider incorporating meal planning into your weekly routine – dedicating a small amount of time on the weekend to plan out meals and create a shopping list can drastically reduce stress during the week. Batch cooking certain ingredients, like browning a larger quantity of ground beef or chopping vegetables in advance, can also save considerable time when it comes to assembly.

Another helpful tip is to embrace versatility. A versatile recipe, much like our One Pot Mac and Beef, can be easily modified with different protein sources or vegetables, preventing meal fatigue. Don’t be afraid to experiment with spices and herbs to change the flavor profile of a familiar dish. Ultimately, the goal is to create a kitchen environment and cooking routine that feels less like a chore and more like an extension of your creative, efficient lifestyle.

Weeknight dinners should be a source of joy and nourishment, not stress, for any busy family. GE Appliances understands this need and offers brilliant solutions to help streamline the kitchen process. From the precise heat control of their double oven range and the unmatched convenience of their hands-free auto-fill refrigerator to the superior cleaning power of their 102 jet wash system dishwasher, GE Appliances are designed to empower you in the kitchen. To see these remarkable appliances in action and truly experience a modern culinary transformation, check out GE: Kitchen Reimagined. For even more insightful tips, delicious recipes, and invaluable advice on conquering weeknight dinners, head over to the Food Network Weeknight Kitchen page. Make every meal an easy, healthy, and enjoyable one!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of GE Appliances. The opinions and text are all mine.