Ahhh American Goulash—pure comfort food. Cozy, beefy, tomato-y, and perfect in one pot. Here’s the classic, no-fuss version most people grew up with:
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 3 cups beef broth or water
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, but highly encouraged)
Instructions
- Brown the Beef
- In a large pot or deep skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned.
- Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes until soft.
- Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Build the Sauce
- Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a gentle boil.
- Cook the Pasta
- Stir in elbow macaroni.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.
- Finish
- Stir in cheese until melted (or serve cheese on top).
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve
- Serve hot with crackers, garlic bread, or a simple salad.
Tips & Variations
- Extra cheesy: Stir in cream cheese or more cheddar at the end.
- Veg boost: Add bell peppers or corn with the onions.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
- Even better next day: Goulash thickens and tastes amazing as leftovers.
If you want, I can give you a slow-cooker version, a one-pot cheesy baked version, or the old-school Midwestern cafeteria style 😄
