Description
American Goulash is a hearty, one-pot comfort meal featuring ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a flavorful tomato-based sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this family-friendly recipe is easy to make, versatile, and customizable to suit your taste.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 large green bell pepper, diced (or 2–3 jalapeños for spice)
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning blend (or a mix of basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme)
- 1 tablespoon paprika (hot paprika preferred)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 4 cans (15 ounces each) fire-roasted tomatoes (or diced tomatoes)
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- Hot sauce to taste (optional)
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Sauté onion and bell pepper (or jalapeños) for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned (about 5 minutes).
- Stir in garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add fire-roasted tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, and optional hot sauce. Stir well, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stir in uncooked elbow macaroni. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until pasta is tender.
- (Optional) Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and cook until melted, 2-3 minutes.
- Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning, and serve hot.
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, substitute regular macaroni with gluten-free pasta.
- Adjust the spice level by modifying the amount of jalapeños, red pepper flakes, or hot sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pot Meal
- Cuisine: American
