Description
A comforting, classic American Goulash made with ground beef, elbow macaroni, onions, peppers, and a rich tomato sauce. Hearty, simple, and perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
8 ounces elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound ground beef (90/10)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 tablespoon paprika
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup beef broth
3 tablespoons soy sauce
14 ounces diced tomatoes
26 ounces tomato puree
2 bay leaves
1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Brown the ground beef with the chopped onion until the beef is cooked and the onion is soft.
- Add garlic, paprika, and diced red bell pepper. Cook until fragrant.
- Pour in the beef broth and soy sauce. Simmer briefly.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato puree, and bay leaves. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked macaroni until well combined.
- Mix in most of the Cheddar cheese until melted, then top with the remaining cheese before serving.
Notes
Add red pepper flakes for heat.
Use mozzarella or Monterey Jack instead of Cheddar.
Swap ground beef for ground turkey for a lighter version.
Add extra vegetables like mushrooms or more peppers for added texture.
Loosen leftovers with a splash of water when reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 1280mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
