This easy tomatoes and macaroni recipe is a quick dinner idea and on the list of cheap family meals when your budget is already stretched. You can make this tomato noodles recipe with a few pantry storage items that you probably already have and won’t require a grocery shopping trip! It’s also a great cheap meal for large crowds, too.
Cheap & Easy Tomatoes and Macaroni Recipe Meal for Less Than $10!
My parents are both from the south, which means there’s always amazing food at family gatherings.
Without fail, there’s one recipe that my daughter always searches out: macaroni and tomatoes.
She loves it. I mean, she loves it so much that my aunt will bring this dish to the family gathering, but secretly give my daughter a reserve all on her own.
RECIPE WARNING: If you're looking for a savory, creamy pasta dish, this isn't it, but it is a fabulous comfort food!
This old fashioned macaroni and tomatoes is good for:
- SUPER cheap meal ideas
- Emergency pantry foods for prepping or long-term food storage ideas
- Last minute dish for family gatherings
- Quick lunch idea for hungry kids or easy lunch ideas pasta
- Budget-friendly side dishes
- Frugal pantry cooking meals less than $10
- Side dish vegetarian recipes or cheap vegetarian meals
- Cheap recipes for a crowd
Recipe Tips & Recipe FAQs
I’m just going to say it: The secret to make this elbow noodles and tomatoes the best recipe is to use bacon grease.
I know. I know, but it really gives this dish an extra boost of flavor.
So, the next time you make bacon, save the grease (in a jar with lid).
RECIPE TIP: If you don't have bacon grease, you can use butter.
MORE RECIPE TIPS:
- You can serve this dish hot, room temperature, or chilled. (It really is that versatile!) My daughter likes it hot or cold!
- This pasta recipe can be served immediately, but I think it’s better if you let it sit for about 20 minutes after cooking (or even better, overnight!).
- Be sure to cook the pasta al dente. This is not a dish that is good with mushy pasta.
- We usually use traditional elbow macaroni for the recipe, but you can use any kind of short, tube pasta (like the kind we used in the picture).
- Some people make this recipe with sugar to cut the acidity of the tomatoes. Just add 1/2 teaspoon sugar to the recipe.
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- If you’re looking for foods for your prepper’s pantry for food storage, this is a filling meal that you can cook right from your pantry stored foods!
