Description
Craving a cozy, hearty dinner that’s easy to whip up and loved by all? This American-style goulash is the answer. Packed with savory ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a rich tomato-based sauce, it’s the perfect one-pot wonder for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or lazy weekends. With pantry-friendly ingredients and bold flavors, it’s one of those easy recipes you’ll turn to again and again. Whether you’re looking for quick dinner ideas, family-friendly comfort food, or a reliable go-to meal, this dish checks every box.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups tomato sauce
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. In a large pot, sauté chopped onions in a bit of oil over medium heat until translucent.
2. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
4. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Add uncooked elbow macaroni. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 12–15 minutes until pasta is tender.
6. Remove bay leaves and stir in fresh parsley if desired. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Use rotini or cavatappi if you’re out of elbow macaroni.
Let it sit covered after cooking so the sauce thickens and coats the pasta fully.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: easy dinner, one pot pasta, beef goulash, family recipe, weeknight meals