Chris's Old Fashioned Goulash

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef (80/20 or lean ground beef)
• 1 lb elbow macaroni (one 16 oz box)
• 1 onion (large, diced)
• 1 bell pepper (large, diced (green or red))
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 30 oz tomato sauce (two 15 oz cans)
• 29 oz diced tomatoes (two 14.5 oz cans, undrained)
• 2 cup beef broth (or water)
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp sugar (to cut the acidity of the tomatoes)
• salt (to taste)
• black pepper (to taste)
• 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded, for topping)

Steps

1. 1

   In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the ground beef, diced onion, and diced bell pepper. Cook until the beef is browned and the vegetables are softened, breaking the meat into small crumbles with a spoon. Drain any excess grease.

2. 2

   Add the minced garlic to the pot and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.

3. 3

   Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (with their juices), beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.

4. 4

   Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

5. 5

   While the sauce simmers, bring a separate pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions until just al dente. Drain the pasta.

6. 6

   Add the cooked macaroni to the meat sauce and stir until the pasta is thoroughly coated.

7. 7

   Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Let the goulash sit for 5-10 minutes before serving; the pasta will continue to absorb some of the sauce.

8. 8

   Serve hot, topped with shredded cheddar cheese if desired.

Notes

This recipe is even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop. If the goulash becomes too thick after sitting or reheating, add a splash of beef broth or water to loosen the sauce. You can substitute ground turkey for a leaner version.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• dinner
• beef
• pasta
• one-pot
• comfort food
• family meal
• budget-friendly