Sides / Casseroles & table breads
Southern Macaroni and Tomatoes
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Canned tomatoes, bacon fat, onion and a pinch of sugar turn plain elbows into the dish somebody's grandmother made on weeknights. Put it on the table and, for a minute, the talking stops.
The short version
Boil macaroni until just shy of tender, then simmer it in canned tomatoes cooked with onion and bacon fat for 10 minutes. Season, add a pinch of sugar, serve hot. One pot, about 30 minutes.
What makes ours better
small changes, very loud compliments
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Start with bacon fat and onion. A spoonful of bacon grease and a diced onion cooked until soft gives the tomatoes a savory backbone. Butter works if you don't have grease.
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Pull the pasta a minute early. The macaroni finishes cooking in the tomatoes and soaks up their flavor instead of just getting coated by it.
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Add a pinch of sugar. Canned tomatoes can taste sharp. A little sugar rounds off the acid without making the dish sweet.
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Simmer to thicken. Ten minutes uncovered cooks off the extra liquid so the sauce clings to the pasta instead of pooling on the plate.
What you need
check the pantry before you promise anyone
- Elbow macaroni8 ounces
- Bacon grease1 tablespoon
- Yellow onion1 medium
- Diced tomatoes1 can
- Sugar1 teaspoon
tap each one as it goes in. no double-salting.
Steps
go slow. the good part can’t be rushed.
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Boil the macaroni
Cook the macaroni in well-salted boiling water for 1 minute less than the package says, until it's bendy but still firm in the center. Drain well.
Don't rinse it. The surface starch helps the sauce cling.
About 7 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Soften the onion
Set the empty pot over medium heat and melt the bacon grease. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Don't let it brown.
About 5 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Add the tomatoes
Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juice. Stir in the sugar, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer, scraping up anything stuck to the bottom.
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Simmer with the pasta
Stir in the drained macaroni. Simmer uncovered over medium-low heat, stirring now and then, until the pasta is tender and the juices have thickened to a loose sauce that coats a spoon, about 10 minutes.
If it gets thick before the pasta is tender, splash in a few tablespoons of water.
About 10 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Taste and finish
Taste and add salt, pepper or another pinch of sugar as needed. Stir in the butter if using, and serve hot.
Good to know
the stuff I’d tell you over the phone
- Petite diced tomatoes cook down fastest. If you only have crushed tomatoes, the dish turns saucier and more like a red sauce.
- Make it a main dish by browning a pound of ground beef with the onion, or add 2 minced garlic cloves for the last minute of onion cooking.
- It thickens as it stands. Loosen with a splash of water when reheating.
- Storage. Fridge in an airtight container, 4 days. Reheat in a saucepan with a splash of water, or in the microwave. Not ideal for freezing; the pasta goes soft.
Questions, answered
asked and answered at the kitchen counter
Can I use fresh tomatoes for macaroni and tomatoes?
Yes. Use about 2 pounds of ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped, and simmer them 10 minutes with the onion before adding the pasta. Fresh tomatoes are juicier, so you may need a few extra minutes to thicken.
Why is my macaroni and tomatoes watery?
Too much liquid is left in the pot. Simmer uncovered for a few more minutes, stirring, until the juices cling to the pasta. Make sure the macaroni was well drained too.
Do I need the sugar?
Not strictly, but canned tomatoes are often sharp and a teaspoon rounds them out. Taste first, then add if the acid bites.
Can I add cheese?
Yes. Stir in a handful of shredded sharp cheddar off the heat for a looser, creamier version. Many cooks do it, though the plain version is the classic.
Can I make macaroni and tomatoes ahead?
Yes, it reheats well. Cook it a day ahead, then warm it in a pot with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
From the table
Made it? Tell me everything. Especially if somebody said it was better than their mother’s. I’ll keep your secret.
Made it?
tell me the truth, then tell me who had thirds
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Published October 29, 2026.