Mom's Goulash (American-Style)

Course: Entree

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 40

Servings:

Calories: 455kcal

Author: Kris Longwell

Mom's American-style goulash is a family favorite comfort meal featuring tender ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a savory tomato sauce, all cooked together in one easy pot.

Print Recipe

Equipment

1 Large skillet 12-inch

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef 90% lean
1 green bell pepper seeded and chopped
1 medium onion chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
2½ cups beef broth
1 14.5 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes diced, with juices
8 oz can tomato sauce
2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon basil dried
1 teaspoon oregano dried
2 bay leaves fresh or dried
1½ teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1½ cup small elbow macaroni
1 cup shredded cheddar (optional)
2 tablespoon Italian parsley chopped, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the beef with the peppers, onion, and garlic. Cook until the beef is no longer pink and the veggies are tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in a pinch of salt and pepper. Safely discard most of the excess grease.
1 lb ground beef, 1 green bell pepper, 1 medium onion, 4 cloves garlic
Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, basil, oregano, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
2½ cups beef broth, 1 14.5 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes, 8 oz can tomato sauce, 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon basil, 1 teaspoon oregano, 2 bay leaves, 1½ teaspoon Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
Stir in the macaroni and simmer until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened, about 15 to 20 minutes.
1½ cup small elbow macaroni
Serve at once with shredded cheddar and chopped Italian parsley, if desired.
1 cup shredded cheddar, 2 tablespoon Italian parsley

Video

Notes

NOTE: Watch the video near the top of the recipe for visual guidance.

We like fire-roasted diced tomatoes, but any type of canned tomatoes will work, including diced, crushed, or stewed.

The sauce will be thin before you add the macaroni. As the pasta absorbs some of the liquid, the sauce will thicken. If you want the sauce thinner, stir in a splash or two of broth. If you want it thicker, let the sauce simmer another 10 minutes, or stir in tomato paste.

Leftovers are excellent and can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for 5 to 6 days. Reheat on the stove over medium heat until bubbly. Add a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce.

Nutrition

Thank You! https://gethealth.info/moms-goulash-american-style/%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cscript%3Ewindow.wprm_recipes = {"recipe-44262":{"type":"food","name":"Mom's Goulash (American-Style)","slug":"wprm-moms-goulash-american-style","image_url":"https:\/\/howtofeedaloon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/moms-goulash-american-style-IG.jpg","rating":{"count":2,"total":10,"average":5,"type":{"comment":2,"no_comment":0,"user":0},"user":0},"ingredients":[{"uid":0,"amount":"1","unit":"lb","name":"ground beef","notes":"90% lean","link":{"url":"","nofollow":"default"},"unit_id":23277,"id":5062,"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"1","unit":"lb","unitParsed":"lb"}}},{"uid":1,"amount":"1","unit":"","name":"green bell pepper","notes":"seeded and 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