Description
Simmering with Hungarian heritage, Goulash brings hearty comfort straight to your dinner table with tender beef and rich paprika-infused broth that warms from the first delicious bite. Comfort cooking doesn’t get more authentic than this classic stew that connects generations through its deeply satisfying flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 lbs ground beef (lean)
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 .15 oz cans tomato sauce
- 2 .15 oz cans petite diced tomatoes
- 2 cups macaroni noodles (uncooked)
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup onion (diced)
- 1 green bell pepper (diced)
- 3 teaspoons garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté 1 cup diced onions and 1 green bell pepper for 3 minutes until they start to soften.
- Add 2 lbs lean ground beef to the pot. Break meat into small pieces and cook at 375°F for 7-8 minutes until no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat from the pot, leaving a thin layer. Return pot to stove and add 3 tsp minced garlic. Stir and cook for 45 seconds until aromatic.
- Pour in 2 cans tomato sauce, 2 cans petite diced tomatoes, 3 cups beef broth, and 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce. Stir thoroughly to combine ingredients.
- Sprinkle 2 tsp seasoned salt, 2 tbsp Italian seasoning, and add 3 whole bay leaves into the mixture. Mix well to distribute seasonings.
- Add 2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles directly into the liquid. Stir gently to ensure pasta is submerged.
- Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer at 200°F for 18-22 minutes until pasta becomes tender.
- Remove bay leaves completely from the pot. Fold in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese until melted and incorporated.
- Let the goulash rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken slightly.
Notes
- Drain meat completely to prevent a greasy dish and ensure a rich, clean flavor.
- For deeper taste, let the goulash simmer longer than 20 minutes, which helps meld the spices and develop richer complexity.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey for a leaner version, but know the flavor profile will be slightly different.
- Use fresh herbs instead of dried Italian seasoning when possible, as they provide more vibrant and authentic taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Hungarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 to 8
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg