Description
Old Fashioned Goulash is a comforting and hearty one-pot American classic featuring ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a rich tomato-based sauce infused with Italian seasoning and paprika. This easy stovetop meal comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights while delivering nostalgic flavors that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
Optional Ingredients
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute to release its fragrance.
- Brown the Beef: Add the ground beef to the pot and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks, about 7–8 minutes. Drain off any excess grease to keep the dish from being too oily.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juices, beef broth, Italian seasoning, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer to marry all the flavors.
- Cook the Macaroni: Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to the simmering sauce. Stir well, cover the pot, and reduce heat to low. Let it simmer gently for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened to a hearty consistency.
- Finish with Cheese: If desired, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and fully incorporated into the goulash. Serve the dish hot, garnished optionally with extra cheese or fresh herbs for added flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- For a deeper, richer flavor, add a splash of red wine before simmering the sauce.
- Enhance the dish with extra vegetables like diced bell peppers or sliced mushrooms for added nutrition and texture.
- Leftovers store well in an airtight container and flavors develop further, making it even better the next day.
- To make it dairy-free, simply omit the cheddar cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
