Description
A hearty and comforting Old-Fashioned Goulash featuring ground beef or turkey simmered with tomatoes, Italian seasonings, and elbow macaroni, topped with melted cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. This classic one-pot meal is perfect for a family dinner, bringing rich flavors and satisfying textures in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 2 lbs ground beef or turkey
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
Liquids and Sauces
- 2 ½ cups water
- ½ cup beef broth
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon adobo seasoning
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
- ½ tablespoon black pepper
Pasta and Cheese
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef or turkey until browned and halfway cooked. Once browned, remove from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pan, add olive oil if needed. Sauté the minced garlic and diced onion until they become soft and fragrant, approximately 5 minutes.
- Combine Meat and Liquids: Return the cooked meat to the pan with the aromatics. Stir in water, beef broth, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes to create the base of the goulash.
- Add Seasonings: Mix in Italian seasoning, adobo seasoning, bay leaves, seasoned salt, and black pepper. Stir everything well to evenly distribute the spices.
- Simmer the Sauce: Cover the pan and let the mixture simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to meld flavors.
- Cook the Pasta: Stir in the uncooked elbow macaroni, cover again, and simmer for an additional 30 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and cooked through.
- Remove Bay Leaves: Carefully remove and discard the bay leaves from the goulash.
- Add Cheddar Cheese: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese into the goulash until it melts and integrates into the sauce.
- Melt Mozzarella Cheese: Just before serving, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the goulash. Allow it to melt slightly on top to add a creamy, cheesy finish.
- Serve: Ladle the warm goulash into bowls and enjoy this satisfying and flavorful dish.
Notes
- For a leaner option, use ground turkey instead of beef.
- You can substitute elbow macaroni with other small pasta shapes like shells or penne.
- Adjust seasonings to taste, especially if you prefer it spicier or milder.
- To make it gluten-free, replace elbow macaroni with gluten-free pasta.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
