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Easy Goulash (American Style) Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 66 reviews

This Easy American Style Goulash is a comforting one-pot meal featuring ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a rich tomato-based sauce infused with Italian seasonings and garlic. It’s a quick and delicious recipe perfect for weeknight dinners, with the option to add sharp cheddar cheese and fresh parsley for extra flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • ¾ pound ground beef (or ground turkey, chicken, pork, veal, or bison)
  • ½ yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cups low sodium beef broth (or chicken or vegetable broth)
  • 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes (1 can)
  • 1 cup marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional, for a sweeter sauce)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
  • 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground paprika
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt (or to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 cup dry elbow macaroni (any short or tubular pasta works)

Optional Toppings

  • ½ cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • Chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Cook the beef and onion: In a Dutch oven, cook the ground beef and diced onion together over medium heat until the onion softens and the meat is cooked through, about 3-5 minutes.
  2. Drain grease: Drain off any excess grease from the cooked beef and onion to reduce fat content.
  3. Add liquids and seasonings: Pour in the beef broth, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and add the bay leaf, Italian seasoning, soy sauce, garlic powder, paprika, seasoned salt, and black pepper. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil.
  4. Simmer sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and let the sauce simmer for 5 to 10 minutes to blend the flavors.
  5. Cook the pasta: Add the dry elbow macaroni to the simmering sauce. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender but not overcooked, about 12-15 minutes.
  6. Remove bay leaf and adjust seasoning: Take out the bay leaf and taste the sauce. Adjust salt, pepper, or other seasonings as needed for desired flavor.
  7. Melt cheese (optional): Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese if using. Alternatively, if using a Dutch oven, place it in a preheated oven to melt and brown the cheese slightly.
  8. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top before serving for a fresh, colorful finish.

Notes

  • For a leaner dish, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
  • You can customize the sauce sweetness by adding or omitting the brown sugar.
  • Feel free to use any type of short pasta if elbow macaroni isn’t available.
  • Leftovers store well and can be reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
  • Add vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms during the cooking process for added nutrition.

Keywords: easy goulash recipe, American style goulash, ground beef goulash, one pot pasta, quick dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/easy-goulash-american-style-recipe/