Italian Skillet Meal

*OzMan*'s Note:

Why buy convenience foods when it's so easy to make your own one-dish macaroni-hamburger meal? Quick and easy. Adjust seasonings to your taste. Adapted from "Fast & Easy Cooking" by Johanna Burkhard.

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 small onion , chopped
• 2 cloves garlic , minced or pressed
• 1 teaspoon dried basil or 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 ½ cups tomato sauce or 1 ½ cups prepared pasta sauce (I use Italian tomato sauce)
• 1 ½ cups chicken broth or 1 ½ cups beef broth (more if required)
• 1 cup macaroni
• 2 medium zucchini, cut in cubes or 1 can green beans

Directions:

1. In a large nonstick frying pan, brown ground beef.
2. Add onion, garlic and basil.
3. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
4. Add tomato sauce and broth.
5. Bring to a boil.
6. Add macaroni.
7. Reduce heat, cover and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes.
8. Stir in zucchini or green beans.
9. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-10 minutes or until macaroni and zucchini are tender.
10. If needed, add more broth.

Reviews

[AnOkie2]

4 1/2 stars - very good and easy meal. I used wide egg noodles instead of macaroni, only because it was the easiest way to get rid of one MORE box from my pantry!

[Tobago Cay]

Not bad. I didn't have any zucchini so I used green pepper. Also added some red wine. This is the kind of meal that you can just make up on your own. Not exceptional but ok.

[HEP MEP]

This is a great recipe for using things on hand, and very easy. I made a few changes - I put half the onion in while browning the meat, used 1 zucchini, but some green pepper also, and used these Barilla Pipettes I had in the house. Little shredded mozzarella and some Parmesan on top, and a bakery baguette to sop up the juice - yum! It's a keeper! Thanks!