Description
Hearty Hungarian goulash warms souls with rich, tender beef simmered in paprika-spiced broth. Comfort meets tradition in this classic one-pot wonder that invites you to savor Central European culinary heritage.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 pounds ground beef
Pasta and Base:
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 2 15 ounces (425 grams) cans tomato sauce
- 2 14.5 ounces (411 grams) cans petit diced tomatoes
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare a welcoming environment for this hearty Hungarian-inspired comfort dish by warming the oven to a steady 350 degrees fahrenheit.
- Select a generously sized pot and create a rolling boil, then immerse macaroni, cooking it approximately 3 minutes shy of package recommendations. Carefully drain and set aside.
- Position a spacious skillet over intense heat, introducing ground beef and diced onions simultaneously. Methodically fragment the meat while continuously stirring, allowing it to transform into a rich golden brown within 6-7 minutes.
- Eliminate accumulated grease from the skillet, preserving the robust meat and onion foundation.
- Introduce minced garlic, allowing its aromatic essence to permeate the mixture for roughly one minute.
- Incorporate Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes, blending thoroughly to create a harmonious sauce.
- Enliven the mixture with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Taste critically and modulate seasonings to personal preference.
- Gently fold cooked macaroni and shredded cheddar cheese into the savory concoction.
- Transfer the goulash either directly in the heat-safe skillet or into a prepared casserole dish, then slide into the preheated oven.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the surface becomes deliciously bubbly and cheese melts into a tempting golden blanket.
Notes
- Undercook pasta slightly to prevent mushiness when baking, ensuring perfect texture in the final dish.
- Drain excess beef fat thoroughly to reduce greasiness and create a cleaner, more concentrated flavor profile.
- Customize seasoning by experimenting with different herbs like smoked paprika or fresh thyme for a unique twist on traditional goulash.
- Make this dish gluten-free by substituting regular macaroni with gluten-free pasta and checking that Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Hungarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg