Here’s a comforting, hearty American Goulash recipe—easy, cheesy, and perfect for a weeknight dinner 🇺🇸🍲
🍲 American Goulash
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped (optional)
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)
Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the beef
- In a large skillet or pot, brown ground beef over medium heat.
- Drain excess fat.
- Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper; sauté until soft.
2️⃣ Add tomatoes & seasonings
- Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, and basil.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 5–10 minutes.
3️⃣ Cook the pasta
- Stir in uncooked elbow macaroni.
- Add about 1 cup water (or more, depending on desired consistency).
- Cover and simmer 10–12 minutes until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
4️⃣ Add cheese & serve
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar over the top.
- Cover for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese.
- Serve hot, optionally with garlic bread.
💡 Tips
- For extra flavor, add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day—store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2–3 days.
If you want, I can also give a slow-cooker version of American Goulash so it cooks all day and the flavors meld perfectly.
Do you want me to provide that?