Secret Ingredient For Grandma’s Old Fashioned Macaroni and Stewed Tomatoes Recipe

SHARE TO SAVE FOR LATER!

This Southern old fashioned macaroni and stewed tomatoes is such a flavorful yet simple pasta recipe. To make the best macaroni and tomatoes recipe, you need to include this secret recipe that Southern women never want to give away. But I’ll tell you how to make the best macaroni recipes, even if my aunts yell at me! (If you don’t know, Southern women are super territorial over their Southern recipes!) 

How To Make Southern Old Fashioned Macaroni and Stewed Tomatoes

This macaroni tomato recipe is a staple at cookouts and Southern family gatherings in my family. That’s where my daughter first had it and now it’s one of her favorite easy pasta dishes.

Macaroni and tomatoes are often called “Depression Food” because it was a cheap and filling meal that people made during the Depression, so you may see it on Depression recipes lists.

What To Put In Macaroni And Tomatoes

There are 4 easy recipe ingredients:

• Elbow macaroni noodles
• Stewed Tomatoes
• Secret Ingredient*
• Sugar (optional)

Get the free printable recipe card below with the secret ingredient.

Classic Macaroni And Tomatoes With Sugar Or Without Sugar?

If you want to start a fight with some Southern women at a cookout, say that you put sugar in your macaroni and tomato recipe.

Or, say that don’t put sugar in your stewed tomatoes and macaroni.

Just know: there is a HUGE dividing line between people who put sugar in macaroni and tomatoes and those who do not. 

I don’t like an overly sweet macaroni & tomatoes recipe, so I only put a little sugar in this recipe. However, I do think it adds a little more flavor. 

If you like a sweeter dish, adjust the sugar to a half teaspoon (or more), or leave it out all together.

Just don’t tell anyone at the Southern cookout…

Tips For Making Grandma’s Macaroni Tomatoes Recipe

The Ultimate Comfort Food & Family Favorite Recipe

If you’ve never had vintage macaroni noodles with tomatoes, you’re probably thinking more like a spaghetti sauce over pasta.

However, this is not at all like that. The noodles are cooked al dente and then the stewed tomato mixture makes a chunky sauce that lightly coats the noodles.

This is the recipe my daughter asks for when she needs some comfort foods!

 

4 Recipe Tips For The Best Making Macaroni And Tomatoes You’ve Ever Had

Recipe Tip #1: You must cook the pasta al dente.

This recipe is not good if you overcook the macaroni noodles, so be sure to cook the pasta al dente.

I use regular sized macaroni noodles and I cook my pasta to 7-8 minutes, where the noodles are cooked but very firm to touch.

 

GET MORE YUMMY SOUTHERN RECIPES HERE

 

Recipe Tip #2: Use stewed tomatoes.

You will see most recipes using canned diced tomatoes. 

I’ve made it with all types of tomatoes (even fresh tomatoes) and my preference is canned stewed tomatoes with no seasoning added.

I only use stewed tomatoes because I think there’s a different flavor and texture that comes with stewed tomatoes. 

Also, another thing that makes this recipe really good is the different sized pieces of tomatoes.

I remember my aunts using their hands to “squish” and break apart the stewed tomatoes before adding them to the pot and this is still what I do today.

If you have kids who like to cook with you, this is a fun messy part of the recipe that they’ll love helping out with!

 

Recipe Tip #3: Don’t forget salt and pepper!

Besides the secret ingredient (below), be liberal with the salt and pepper with this recipe. 

The last time I made this, I used more pepper than I usually do and we decided that we like our stewed tomatoes and mac with a little more kick. I’ll be adding extra pepper from now on, for sure.

Salt and pepper are the only seasonings, so you’ll want to taste and adjust before serving.

 

Recipe Tip #4: Do NOT leave out the secret ingredient.

The must-have secret ingredient that gives this recipe a rich flavor with very little seasoning is bacon grease. 

(For real. Don’t leave it out.)

You can use leftover bacon grease or fresh bacon grease if you just made bacon.

BONUS SECRET RECIPE TIP: After the cooked macaroni noodles have been drained, I often stir in a little bacon grease with the noodles and let it sit while I make the tomato sauce.

 

 

ALSO TRY ANOTHER FAVORITE PASTA RECIPE: EASY ITALIAN PASTA SALAD

 

 

Recipe Variations (And Why I Don’t Make Macaroni & Tomatoes That Way)

• THERE ARE MANY VARIATIONS OF THIS SOUTHERN CLASSIC DISH OUT THERE: Some recipes call for extras like butter, onions, or chicken broth. You can easily adapt this recipe to add (or remove) recipe ingredients, but I happen to think the simplicity of this surprisingly flavorful recipe is what makes it such a great recipe for any occasions.
• Use only plain stewed tomatoes and not the Italian seasoned stewed tomatoes. This recipe really doesn’t need the extra seasoning if you season adequately with salt and pepper.
• Do not use tomato sauce (of any kind). Just use cut up tomatoes.

 

What To Serve With Macaroni And Tomatoes

Honestly, macaroni and stewed tomatoes are a great side dish with anything for a cookout, hamburger or hotdogs, or even as an easy pasta lunch on its own.

Here are things to eat with classic macaroni and tomato recipes:

• With cornbread or garlic bread (as a meal)
• With Salad
• Hamburgers
• Hotdogs
• Grilled chicken
• Rotisserie chicken
• Fried chicken
• Steak
• BLTs
• Sandwiches
• Fried fish

Easy Recipe For Macaroni And Tomatoes

This is my grandma’s macaroni and stewed tomatoes recipe and how I remember my aunts making it at family reunions (plus or minus the sugar, depending on which aunt was making it!).

This is an easy side dish recipe to double or triple the recipe for a crowd.

DON’T MISS ANOTHER FAVORITE SOUTHERN RECIPE BELOW AFTER THIS PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD!

 

Also try this Southern Side Dish Recipe: How To Make Southern Cornbread Salad

I hope you enjoy this old fashioned macaroni and stewed tomatoes recipe!

SHARE TO SAVE FOR LATER!