Description
This old-fashioned goulash is a hearty and comforting American classic made with ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a rich tomato-based sauce. It’s an easy one-pot meal perfect for feeding a family.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 large yellow onions, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups water
- 2 (15 oz.) cans tomato sauce
- 2 (15 oz.) cans diced tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with chopped onions until the meat is no longer pink and onions are soft.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, paprika, and black pepper.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, and let it simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Add the uncooked elbow macaroni and stir well to combine.
- Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked and the dish is thickened.
- If desired, top with shredded cheddar cheese before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for ground beef for a lighter version.
- Adjust seasoning to taste; add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Leftovers keep well and taste even better the next day.
- Cheese topping is optional but adds a creamy, rich flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
