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Busy-Day Macaroni (Microwave)

By Sharon Kurtz
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Weeknight-fast microwave pasta casserole with beef, spaghetti sauce, and melty cheese.

Busy-Day Macaroni casserole in a microwave-safe dish

Prep

5 mins

Cook

18 mins

Total

23 mins

Calories

457 kcal

Protein

33.7 g

Carbohydrates

9 g

Serves

4 servings

Fat

32 g

Longevity

51/100

When the day gets away from you and everyone is hungry now, this busy-day macaroni is the kind of supper that saves the evening. It leans on pantry basics, a microwave-safe casserole dish, and a short list of steps you can finish without a lot of cleanup. Ground beef, pasta, sauce, and cheese come together into a warm, familiar dinner that feels like comfort food on a deadline. The microwave method keeps things moving fast, which is a gift on school nights and late-work evenings. You can keep it classic for picky eaters or stir in extra vegetables when you want to lighten the plate. Using a lower-sodium sauce and leaner meat helps balance the meal without taking away the flavor folks expect. It is also a great recipe for batch cooking because leftovers reheat well for lunch the next day. Serve it with a crisp salad or steamed broccoli and suddenly dinner looks more complete with very little extra effort. Nothing here is fancy, but it is dependable, filling, and easy to make your own. This is the kind of country-kitchen shortcut meal that keeps a busy family fed and happy.

Ingredients

Servings
UnitsStandard
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  • Proteins
  • Fiber / plants
  • Fats
  • Flavor / spices

Ingredient notes

  • Short pasta shapes cook most evenly in the microwave.

  • Stir halfway through so pasta stays submerged.

Step-by-step

4 servings
  1. 1

    Step 1

    Microwave beef

    • Ingredients:
      • 1 pound ground beef
    • Action: Crumble beef into a microwave-safe casserole. Microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes, stirring twice, then drain fat.
  2. 2

    Step 2

    Combine and cook

    • Ingredients:
      • 1 (15 1/2 ounces) jar spaghetti sauce
      • 1 cup macaroni, uncooked
      • 1 cup water
    • Action: Stir in sauce, macaroni, and water. Cover and microwave on HIGH for 13 minutes, stirring halfway through.
  3. 3

    Step 3

    Finish and serve

    • Ingredients:
      • 0.5 to 1 cup shredded cheese
    • Action: Sprinkle cheese over the hot casserole. Rest 5 minutes, then serve.

Step insights

  • Resting after microwaving lets the pasta finish absorbing liquid and melts the cheese evenly.

Equipment

  • 2 quarts microwave-safe casserole

  • Microwave

  • Measuring cups

  • Spoon

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Busy-Day Macaroni (Microwave) | NapTime Village | NapTime Village