Here’s a hearty and classic recipe for American Goulash—a comforting, one-pot dish with ground beef, pasta, and tomato sauce.
🍲 American Goulash
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped (optional)
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 410 g) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 oz / 227 g) tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups elbow macaroni or other small pasta
- 2 cups beef broth or water
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Cook the beef
- In a large skillet or pot, brown the ground beef over medium heat.
- Drain excess fat.
- Add vegetables and seasonings
- Stir in onions, garlic, and bell pepper. Cook 3–5 minutes until softened.
- Add paprika, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Add liquids and pasta
- Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth.
- Bring to a boil.
- Add pasta and reduce heat to simmer.
- Cook the pasta
- Simmer uncovered 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and sauce thickens.
- Add cheese (optional)
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar on top and cover for a few minutes until melted.
- Serve
- Serve hot, with bread or a side salad.
💡 Tips
- For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning or a dash of hot sauce.
- You can make this ahead of time; it reheats well.
- For a lighter version, use ground turkey or lean beef and whole wheat pasta.
If you want, I can also give you a quick 30-minute stovetop version of American goulash that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
