🍝 American Goulash (One-Pot Beef & Pasta)
American goulash is a hearty one-pot dish made with ground beef, macaroni, and a tomato-based sauce. It’s different from Hungarian goulash—it’s more like a comforting pasta skillet meal.
🧾 Ingredients
- 500g ground beef (mince)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2–3 garlic cloves (optional)
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (or small pasta)
- 2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 2–3 cups water or broth
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp paprika (optional but recommended)
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
- Optional: shredded cheese on top
🍳 Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot
- Sauté onion (and garlic) until soft
- Add ground beef and cook until browned
- Season with salt, pepper, and paprika
- Stir in tomato sauce and water/broth
- Add uncooked macaroni
- Simmer 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally
- Pasta cooks directly in the sauce
- When pasta is tender and sauce thickens, turn off heat
- Top with cheese if you like
💡 Tips
- Stir often so pasta doesn’t stick
- Add extra water if it gets too thick
- Let it sit 5 minutes before serving—it thickens more
🍽️ Variations
- 🧀 Cheesy goulash (add lots of cheddar)
- 🌶️ Spicy version (chili flakes or hot sauce)
- 🥕 Veggie version (add bell peppers, carrots, peas)
If you want, I can show you:
- 🇭🇺 Hungarian goulash (completely different dish)
- 🍝 Creamy American goulash
- 🥘 15-minute quick version
Just tell me 👍
