Description
American Goulash is a comforting one-pot meal featuring tender ground beef simmered with tomatoes, bell peppers, and aromatic spices, combined with elbow macaroni and melted cheddar cheese for a hearty and satisfying dish perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red or green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 (14 fluid ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14 fluid ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 cup beef broth (or 50/50 mix of broth and dry red wine)
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Beef and Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Cook for about 8 minutes, breaking up the beef with a spoon until it is browned evenly. If there is excess fat, spoon out most of it carefully.
- Add Vegetables and Liquids: Stir in the chopped bell pepper, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juices, beef broth (or the broth and red wine mixture), Italian seasoning, paprika, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
- Cook the Pasta: Add the uncooked elbow macaroni and bay leaves to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a rapid simmer. Cook uncovered for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Finish with Cheese and Seasoning: Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese. Cover the pot and let it rest for 5 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and the pasta to finish cooking. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then serve immediately.
Notes
- You can substitute the beef broth with chicken broth or vegetable broth if preferred.
- For a spicier variation, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes.
- The cheese is optional but adds a creamy, rich finish.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat nicely.
- For a dairy-free version, omit the cheese or replace it with a dairy-free alternative.
