Description
Sink into the ultimate comfort food with the Only Goulash You’ll Ever Need—a one-pot American classic loaded with tender elbow macaroni, rich tomato sauce, savory ground beef, and bold spices. This easy dinner recipe is a weeknight lifesaver and a freezer-friendly favorite. Whether you’re after hearty dinner ideas, a cozy family meal, or just some simple food ideas to warm up your evening, this dish delivers big flavor with minimal effort. It’s budget-friendly, packed with protein, and loved by picky eaters and leftovers-lovers alike.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups tomato sauce
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
2 cups elbow macaroni
2 cups beef broth
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. In a large pot, brown the ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain excess grease.
2. Add chopped onion and garlic. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until the onion softens.
3. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, bay leaves, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
4. Add beef broth and elbow macaroni. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.
6. Remove bay leaves, adjust seasoning, and sprinkle parsley before serving if desired.
Notes
To prevent overcooked pasta, keep a close eye during the simmer and stir occasionally.
For extra richness, stir in a handful of shredded cheddar cheese right before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One Pot
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: easy dinner, comfort food, goulash, quick dinner, one-pot meal, budget meal, pasta recipe