Description
Hungarian goulash delivers a hearty symphony of tender beef, paprika-rich sauce, and comforting noodles. Generations of home cooks have perfected this classic dish, inviting you to savor a delicious journey through traditional Central European cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 2 cans tomato sauce
- 2 cans petite diced tomatoes
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 0.5 tablespoons black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Step: Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) while preparing a large pot of boiling water to cook the elbow macaroni, targeting an al dente texture by reducing cooking time by 3 minutes from package instructions.
- Step: In a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef and diced onions together, cooking for 6-7 minutes until the meat is thoroughly cooked and onions turn translucent, carefully draining any accumulated fat.
- Step: Introduce minced garlic to the meat mixture, sautéing briefly for approximately 1 minute, then incorporate tomato sauce, petite diced tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce, stirring to create a cohesive blend.
- Step: Enhance the mixture with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper, adjusting quantities to personal taste preferences and mixing thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Step: Gently fold the drained macaroni into the beef and sauce combination, ensuring complete coating, then gradually add shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until fully integrated and creating a creamy consistency.
- Step: Transfer the goulash to a greased 9×13 inch casserole dish if not using an oven-safe skillet, spreading the mixture evenly and placing in the preheated oven.
- Step: Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top develops a golden-brown crust and the edges become bubbly, indicating the dish is thoroughly heated and the cheese has melted completely.
- Step: Remove from the oven and allow the goulash to rest for 5-10 minutes, which helps the dish set and makes serving easier, then plate and enjoy with optional garnishes or side dishes.
Notes
Gather all ingredients beforehand to streamline the cooking process. Slightly undercook pasta to avoid mushiness during the final baking stage. Drain excess fat after cooking meat to keep the goulash lighter. Select high-quality cheddar cheese for maximum melting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking, Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: goulash, comfort food, beef, pasta, dinner