Description
American Goulash is a one-pot pasta dinner with savory ground beef, tomato-rich sauce, and tender macaroni that cooks right in the pot for weeknight ease and cozy flavor.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef (80–90% lean)
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3–4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
24–30 oz tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
14–28 oz canned diced tomatoes, undrained
2–3 cups beef or chicken broth
1–2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1–2 tsp Italian seasoning or oregano
1 tsp paprika or chili powder (optional)
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 small carrot, grated (optional)
1 small celery stalk, diced (optional)
1/4 cup Parmesan or 1–1.5 cups shredded cheddar (optional)
Instructions
1. Warm oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until fragrant.
2. Add ground beef, breaking up, and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire, seasoning, paprika, tomatoes, and broth.
4. Simmer 15–20 minutes, covered, to meld flavors. Adjust salt, pepper, or add sugar/carrot if acidic.
5. Stir in elbow macaroni. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 10–12 minutes until just tender.
6. Add Parmesan or cheddar if desired. Rest 5 minutes to thicken. Serve hot.
Notes
Brown beef well and scrape the fond for more flavor.
Cook pasta to al dente and stir occasionally.
Balance acidity with Worcestershire, tomato paste, or grated carrot.
Undercook pasta by 1–2 minutes if planning for leftovers.
For freezing, cook and freeze sauce without pasta, then add fresh macaroni when reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One Pot
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 to 1.5 cups
- Calories: 418
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 890
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 9
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 31
- Cholesterol: 65