Description
A hearty and comforting American Goulash recipe featuring ground beef, bell peppers, tomatoes, and elbow macaroni simmered together in a flavorful tomato sauce with aromatic herbs and a hint of red wine. Perfect for a family dinner, this classic stovetop dish delivers rich, savory flavors with minimal fuss.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil ($0.22)
- 1 yellow onion, diced ($0.70)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced ($0.16)
- 2 bell peppers, diced ($1.72)
- 1 lb ground beef ($4.98)
- 1/2 cup red wine ($0.72)
- 1 28oz. can diced tomatoes ($1.63)
- 1 15oz. can tomato sauce ($1.06)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce ($0.05)
- 2 whole bay leaves (optional, $0.30)
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp dried basil ($0.05)
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper ($0.02)
- 1/2 cup water ($0.00)
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (about 1/2 lb) ($0.59)
- Salt to taste ($0.05)
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatics and vegetables: Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until the onions are translucent. While sautéing, dice the bell peppers. Add bell peppers to the pot and continue to sauté for about two more minutes to soften the vegetables.
- Brown the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the pot with the sautéed vegetables. Continue cooking over medium heat until the beef is fully cooked and browned. Pour in the red wine and stir well, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits, adding depth of flavor.
- Add tomato base and seasonings: Stir in the diced tomatoes with their juices, tomato sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves, oregano, basil, crushed red pepper, and water. Mix everything together thoroughly. Cover the pot with a lid and increase heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and let it simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop rich flavors.
- Cook the macaroni in the sauce: After the sauce has simmered, stir in the elbow macaroni. Cover the pot again and let the pasta cook in the sauce over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the macaroni is tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. This allows the pasta to absorb the flavors of the sauce.
- Season and serve: Taste the goulash and season with salt as needed. Remove the bay leaves before serving. Serve hot and enjoy this filling and delicious American Goulash.
Notes
- Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter or vegetarian version.
- Red wine can be omitted or replaced with additional water or beef broth if preferred.
- Use gluten-free macaroni to make this dish gluten-free.
- For a spicier version, increase crushed red pepper or add chili flakes.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat nicely on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
