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American Goulash is the Perfect One-Pot Blend of Mac & Cheese and Spaghetti

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This Hearty American Goulash combines macaroni with a rich, meaty sauce for the perfect cold weather comfort food all in one pot.

This recipe gives me all the feels. When I was five years old, my sister and I went to daycare where they served us lunch each day. I was a picky eater at five and often had a hard time with the meals served. But not on goulash day. I LOVED goulash day. It was my absolute favorite and I looked forward to it all month long.

I rediscovered the recipe after Jon and I got married. It was a yummy comfort food to whip up on cold nights after shoveling snow outside our condo or in preparation for a movie marathon. In fact, long, long ago back when Homemaker’s Habitat was very young (and frankly, I was too for that matter), this American Goulash was the MOST popular recipe on my site. In fact, waaaaayyy back in 2009 it was featured on Saveur as part of some sort of “Sites We Love” list. I’d share the link to prove it, but it doesn’t work anymore. Anyway, I have some strong associations with this recipe.

Cold Weather Comfort Food

If you’ve never had it, American Goulash is a white bread interpretation of traditional Hungarian goulash…but also nothing like it at all. Hungarian Goulash is best described as a hearty beef stew thats generously seasoned with paprika and served over egg noodles. American Goulash is basically a very meaty spaghetti sauce simmered with macaroni noodles. Both are delicious, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food.

Picky Eater Approved!

Obviously the American variety holds a special place in my heart but beyond my emotional connections, the bottom line is that this recipe is easy to make and super kid-friendly to boot. The kids loved tucking into big bowls of this while we watched Hocus Locus on Saturday and immediately asked that I send the leftovers in their lunches this week. Which is super smart on their part because this is definitely one of those recipes that tastes even better after a night in the fridge.

Easy One Pot Cooking

Perhaps the best part of this recipe is how easy it is to make. This is a true one pot meal– simply brown your meat and veggies, add the tomato sauce and broth and pour in dry macaroni noodles to simmer away in the sauce. In about an hour, you have a gigantic pot of hearty, beefy comforting goodness. I like mine topped with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese (though a handful of mozzarella would be a gooey twist) and a whole lot of black pepper. Jon always adds a few splashes of hot sauce too.

No matter how you top it, this American Goulash is sure to be a new cold weather favorite.

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American Goulash is the Perfect Blend of Mac & Cheese and Spaghetti

  • Author: Homemaker’s Habitat
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6-8 1x
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: One Pot Cooking
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

This Hearty American Goulash combines macaroni with a rich, meaty sauce for the perfect cold weather comfort food.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and shredded
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (14 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 2 tsp. season salt (such as Lawry’s)
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1.5 cups dry elbow macaroni
  • Fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven, brown beef and turkey over medium-high heat until cooked all the way through, breaking up as it cooks. Transfer meat to a colder to drain off fat.
  2. In the same pot, add olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add onions, mushrooms and carrot and continue cooking until tender and starting to brown (about 5 min). Add garlic and cook 5 minutes more. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, Italian seasoning, season salt, chili powder and soy sauce. Bring to a simmer.
  3. Add macaroni to pot and stir well. Replace lid and cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until macaroni is tender. Turn off heat and let the pot sit covered for 10 minutes or until any remaining liquid has been absorbed. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Notes

This recipe tastes delicious straight out of the pot but is even more flavorful after a night in the fridge.

Keywords: Goulash, American Goulash, One Pot Meals