Classic American Goulash
This classic American goulash recipe features a hearty and flavorful meat sauce with tender elbow macaroni, perfect for a comforting family meal.
Equipment
- large pot
- Dutch oven
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 or 90/10)
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 crushed tomatoes (28-ounce) can
- 1 tomato sauce (15-ounce) can
- 1 diced tomatoes (14.5-ounce) can, undrained
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for serving, optional)
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, then add ground beef and cook until browned, draining excess fat.
- Add chopped onion to the pot and cook until softened, then stir in minced garlic and cook for one minute until fragrant.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the sauce simmers, cook elbow macaroni in a separate pot of salted water until al dente, then drain well.
- Stir the cooked and drained macaroni into the simmering sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasonings, then serve hot, optionally garnished with shredded cheddar cheese.
Notes
For extra flavor, you can add a bay leaf to the sauce while it simmers, removing it before serving. If you prefer a thicker sauce, simmer uncovered for the last 10 minutes.