Shipwreck Skillet Recipe is a great choice when you have hungry mouths to feed and are short on time! Simple boxed mac and cheese is elevated into a hearty meal full of beef, tomatoes, and cheesy goodness.
This kid-friendly meal has it all. What more could you ask for?!!
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Shipwreck ground beef skillet
Not only is this skillet dinner easy to make it's also the ultimate comfort food. Even the pickiest of eaters will love it! My grandma made fantastic goulash and mac n cheese and in my opinion this is an ideal mix of both!
With a simple list of ingredients so you don't have to worry about spending a lot of money at the grocery store. All you need is a skillet so you won't have many dishes to clean up either. I call that a win-win!
Ingredients
Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.
- Lean ground beef, though you could use ground turkey or chicken if you'd prefer.
- Package macaroni and cheese mix, nothing fancy here!
- Evaporated milk, milk or half and half
Creative variations to try
- Need to stretch this recipe further? Or want to add a little more fiber? And a can of drained and rinsed kidney beans in the last few minutes of cooking.
- If you want to add some fresh vegetables to this casserole you can add in some diced bell pepper, green peas, or even sliced zucchini. That would be amazing!
- For additional flavor, you can add black pepper, garlic powder, taco seasoning, Italian seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce.
- I love the flavor that cheddar cheese brings to this recipe. However, you can also use your favorite good melting cheese such as colby jack or mozzarella cheese.
Step-by-step instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook another minute
- Stir pasta and cheese mixture from macaroni and cheese package into beef. Stir in canned tomatoes, and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. About 10-12 minutes.
- Season with seasoning salt. Stir ½ of the Cheddar cheese into dish to melt. Top with remaining cheese.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
The name comes from the layers of ingredients resembling a shipwreck. This dish is also known as "poor man's casserole" as it uses inexpensive and readily available ingredients.
Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.
Deb's top tips
I've found that the Kraft Macaroni (the kind with the powdered cheese mix) works great in this recipe.
- For this recipe, I used fresh garlic cloves however if you want to save a little prep time you can use the jarred kind instead.
- I always find that shredding the cheese yourself and not using the pre-shredded cheese will give you great cheese melt on recipes like this one.
More recipes you'll love
- Are you looking for another vintage ground beef recipe to add to your meal plan? If so, you can't go wrong with this Creamy Beef Noodle Casserole. It's hearty, and filling and it also makes a great freezer meal.
- This Ultimate Chicken Noodle Casserole is an old-fashioned recipe that the whole family will rave about. Not only is it bursting with a cheese sauce but it's also budget-friendly.
- The next time that you need a ground beef casserole to add to your meal rotation, give this Beef and Rice Casserole a try. It's one of my favorite make-ahead recipes, but also kids love it.
Side dishes
- I always like to pair a rich dish like this one with a fresh green side dish like this Slow Cooker Asparagus, because then I feel like it's a balanced and complete meal.
- However, you can also pair this easy dinner with a simple salad like this Greek Salad. We love a fresh salad with hearty meals.
- You can never go wrong with delicious bread with this shipwreck dinner. And, this Frozen Garlic Bread is one of my favorites, and it's great for meal-prepping so you always have it on hand.
This is a surprisingly delicious pasta dish. It's not the prettiest, but a delicious way to elevate box Mac n Cheese. I'd love to hear what you have to say. Please leave a comment below!
Shipwreck Dinner
Equipment
- Large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic
- 7.25 ounce package macaroni and cheese mix
- 14.5 ounce can diced fire roasted tomatoes
- 12 ounce can evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese divided
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook another minute until it just starts to be fragrant.
- Stir pasta and cheese mixture from macaroni and cheese package into beef. Stir in canned tomatoes, and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. About 10-12 minutes.
- Season with seasoning salt. Stir ½ of the Cheddar cheese into dish to melt. Top with remaining cheese.
Notes
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate - If you wind up with leftovers you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freezer - This freezes well. Freeze in an airtight container or well sealed with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Reheating - To reheat this casserole, you can either microwave individual portions or heat it in a skillet on the stovetop with a little bit of water or milk.to prevent it from drying out.Nutrition
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