Description
Southern Style Goulash is a hearty one-pot comfort food classic made with ground beef, macaroni, and a savory tomato-based sauce. Perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week, this dish delivers nostalgia and flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
1 optional bay leaf
1 tablespoon optional Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
2. Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until fragrant and softened.
3. Stir in diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and optional bay leaf or Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer.
4. Let the mixture simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes to develop flavor.
5. While sauce simmers, cook elbow macaroni in a separate pot until just al dente. Drain.
6. Remove bay leaf from sauce. Stir in the cooked macaroni. Let everything simmer together for 3–5 more minutes.
7. Serve hot and garnish with fresh parsley or shredded cheese if desired.
Notes
For extra richness, add a handful of shredded cheddar cheese when combining pasta and sauce.
If freezing, cook the pasta slightly under al dente to prevent mushiness when reheated.
Use fire-roasted diced tomatoes for added depth and smoky flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: goulash, ground beef, macaroni, comfort food