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Macaroni and Tomatoes in a bowl
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Macaroni And Tomatoes

Budget-friendly and quick, this macaroni and tomatoes have a garlicky, smoky, and slightly sweet taste. A true Southern comfort dish!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword macaroni and tomatoes recipes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 323kcal
Author Kathleen

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon bacon grease
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 (14.-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes undrained
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni

Instructions

  • Cook the macaroni (8 ounces), according to the package instructions, in well-salted water, then drain.
  • Melt butter (1 tablespoon) and bacon grease (1 tablespoon) in a large Dutch oven, or pot, over medium-low. Add garlic (1 tablespoon) and cook, stirring frequently (so garlic doesn't burn) for about 1-2 minutes, or until garlic is fragrant.
    Step 1 how to make Macaroni and Tomatoes, Saute the garlic with melted butter and bacon grease.
  • Pour in the diced tomatoes (1 can) and whole peeled tomatoes with all the juices (1 can). Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a medium-simmer, crushing the whole tomatoes as they simmer, with a wooden spoon or meat chopper (see tips), until most of the liquid has evaporated.
    Step 3 how to make elbow macaroni and tomatoes, Bring to a boil, and crush it with a wooden spoon or meat chopper.
  • Add the Cajun seasoning (1 teaspoon) and sugar (1/2 teaspoon). Continue to simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
  • Pour in the cooked and drained macaroni and mix well, coating all the noodles. Adjust seasoning to your taste, if needed. Spoon into individual bowls and serve warm.
    Step 5 how to make Macaroni and Tomatoes, Stir

Notes

  1. Meat Chopper: This is my favorite tool to use to chop or crush whole can tomatoes in this recipe and recipes that need crushed tomatoes for soups and stew. I also use this tool often, when browning ground meats it also needs to be crumbled. Honestly, it's one of the most used tools in my kitchen. Here's the one I use (affiliate link. This helps me make a little bit of money (very little!) to help pay for groceries and doesn't cost you anything extra!! Thank you for your support!)
  2. Bacon Grease: The next time you make bacon, save the grease!  It’s considered gold in my household!
  3. Change It Up! Add some browned ground beef or turkey, bacon, sausage, or sauteed onions and bell peppers to transform it to a main dish.
  4. Top It: You can top it with Parmesan cheese if you like. It's delicious with Parm!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 309mg | Potassium: 634mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 671IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 3mg