Description
This Simple Ground Beef Goulash is a hearty, one-pot classic that delivers big comfort with minimal effort. Made with tender elbow macaroni, seasoned ground beef, and a rich tomato-based sauce, it’s perfect for a quick dinner or cozy family meal. Whether you’re looking for easy dinner ideas, budget-friendly meals, or nostalgic comfort food, this easy recipe checks all the boxes. Ideal for weeknight cooking, leftovers, or freezer meals—this is your new go-to comfort dish.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 cups elbow macaroni
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat until fully cooked; drain excess fat.
2. Add chopped onions and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
3. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and bay leaf.
4. Pour in beef broth and simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Stir in macaroni and cook 12–15 minutes until pasta is tender.
6. Remove bay leaf and stir in cheddar cheese if using.
7. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Let the goulash rest 5 minutes before serving so the sauce thickens.
Use gluten-free pasta if needed but reduce the cooking time slightly.
This recipe freezes well for up to 3 months for easy meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: easy dinner, ground beef recipe, goulash, comfort food, quick meal