One Pot Goulash Dinner

🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Brown the Beef and Aromatics

1. Brown: Heat a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking the meat apart with a wooden spoon, until the beef is fully browned and the onions are soft.
2. Drain: Carefully drain away any excess grease from the pot.
3. Aromatics: Turn the heat down to medium. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

2. Build the Savory Tomato Base

1. Combine: Pour the beef broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, sugar, salt, and black pepper directly into the pot with the beef.
2. Boil: Stir everything thoroughly to combine and bring the liquid to a rolling boil.

3. Simmer the Macaroni

1. Add Pasta: Stir the uncooked elbow macaroni directly into the boiling liquid.
2. Simmer: Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and let it simmer for 12 to 15 minutes.
3. Stir: Make sure to stir the mixture every 3 to 4 minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot. The goulash is ready when the macaroni is perfectly tender and has absorbed most of the liquid, creating a rich sauce.

4. The Cheesy Finish (Optional)

1. Melton: Turn off the heat. If you love cheese, sprinkle the shredded cheddar evenly over the top of the goulash.
2. Cover: Put the lid back on for 2 to 3 minutes to let the residual steam melt the cheese into a gooey blanket. Serve hot straight from the pot!

💡 Cooking Secrets

• Don’t Pre-Cook the Pasta: Adding the macaroni completely raw is the key to this recipe. The starch released from the pasta as it cooks directly in the broth naturally thickens the tomato sauce into a silky gravy.
• Keep an Eye on Liquid: If your heat is a little too high and the pasta absorbs the liquid before it’s fully tender, simply splash in another ¼ cup of beef broth or water.

Would you like to try a spicy Tex-Mex style variation of this goulash? I can also show you how to pack it with extra veggies like bell peppers and corn if you prefer.