Description
Pioneer Woman’s old fashioned goulash blends hearty beef, tender noodles, and rich tomato sauce in a comforting midwestern classic. Families will savor this simple, nostalgic dish that quickly becomes a cherished meal you can’t wait to share.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lb (680 g) ground beef
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 (15 oz / 443 ml) can of beef broth
- 1 (15 oz / 443 ml) can of tomato sauce
- 1 (15 oz / 443 ml) can of diced tomatoes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp ground paprika
- 1 tsp seasoned salt
- 2 tsps dried Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Chopped fresh herbs (parsley, chives, or dill) for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sauté onions until translucent, then add minced garlic and cook briefly without browning.
- Brown Meat: Add ground beef, breaking into uniform crumbles. Cook until completely browned, tilting the pot to remove excess fat if necessary.
- Build Flavor Profile: Pour in beef broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle in seasoned salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Simmer and Cook Pasta: Introduce elbow macaroni directly into the sauce, ensuring it’s fully submerged. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta reaches al dente consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from heat and fold in shredded cheddar cheese until completely melted. Optional: Garnish with fresh parsley or chives for a vibrant touch before serving hot.
Notes
- Meat Selection Tip: Choose lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10) to minimize excess grease and maintain a cleaner dish texture.
- Seasoning Strategy: Toast Italian seasoning briefly in the pot before adding liquid to enhance its aromatic compounds and deepen flavor profile.
- Pasta Precision: Stir macaroni frequently while cooking to prevent bottom-of-pot sticking and ensure uniform pasta doneness.
- Cheese Melting Hack: Remove pot from direct heat when adding cheese to prevent potential graininess and achieve smooth, creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg