Description
Hungarian goulash delivers a hearty symphony of tender beef, paprika-rich sauce, and comforting noodles. Generations of home cooks have perfected this classic dish, inviting you to savor a delicious journey through traditional Central European cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Pasta:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) ground beef
- 1 pound (454 grams) elbow macaroni
Tomato and Cheese Components:
- 2 cans tomato sauce
- 2 cans petite diced tomatoes
- 1 cup (240 milliliters/8 ounces) cheddar cheese, shredded
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 0.5 tablespoons (7.5 milliliters) black pepper
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 tablespoons (7.5 milliliters) Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) salt
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) while preparing a large pot of boiling water to cook the elbow macaroni, targeting an al dente texture by reducing cooking time by 3 minutes from package instructions.
- In a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef and diced onions together, cooking for 6-7 minutes until the meat is thoroughly cooked and onions turn translucent, carefully draining any accumulated fat.
- Introduce minced garlic to the meat mixture, sautéing briefly for approximately 1 minute, then incorporate tomato sauce, petite diced tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce, stirring to create a cohesive blend.
- Enhance the mixture with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper, adjusting quantities to personal taste preferences and mixing thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Gently fold the drained macaroni into the beef and sauce combination, ensuring complete coating, then gradually add shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until fully integrated and creating a creamy consistency.
- Transfer the goulash to a greased 9×13 inch (23×33 centimeter) casserole dish if not using an oven-safe skillet, spreading the mixture evenly and placing in the preheated oven.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top develops a golden-brown crust and the edges become bubbly, indicating the dish is thoroughly heated and the cheese has melted completely.
- Remove from the oven and allow the goulash to rest for 5-10 minutes, which helps the dish set and makes serving easier, then plate and enjoy with optional garnishes or side dishes.
Notes
- Gather all ingredients beforehand to streamline the cooking process and prevent last-minute scrambling.
- Slightly undercook pasta to avoid mushiness during the final baking stage, ensuring perfect texture.
- Brown ground beef thoroughly to develop deep, rich flavor and eliminate any potential moisture that could make the dish watery.
- Drain excess fat after cooking meat to keep the goulash lighter and prevent greasiness.
- Select high-quality cheddar cheese for maximum melting and flavor enhancement in the final dish.
- Customize the recipe by adding optional herbs like fresh parsley or basil for an extra layer of aromatic complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking, Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg