Brown the ground beef in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, then drain any excess grease.
Add the chopped onion and minced garlic; cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Bring to a boil, then stir in the uncooked macaroni.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender.
Top with cheddar (or stir it in) until melty, if using.
Let rest for 5 minutes to thicken, then serve warm.