Irresistible American Goulash
A comforting and hearty American dish featuring pasta in a rich tomato sauce with ground beef and aromatic herbs, perfect for families and gatherings.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef Use lean ground beef for a healthier option.
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes Alternatively, use diced tomatoes.
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar Balances the acidity of the tomatoes.
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup cooked elbow macaroni Cook according to package instructions.
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving Optional for garnish.
Instructions
Preparation
- Gather all ingredients needed for the recipe. Dice the onion and mince the garlic.
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente.
Cooking
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook until the beef is browned, around 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Drain excess grease to keep the dish from becoming too oily.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce into the beef mixture. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are combined.
- Add sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat and then reduce the heat to let it simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes.
- Add in the cooked elbow macaroni and stir well to coat in the sauce.
- Let the dish simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
Serving
- Serve in bowls topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
The dish is great for leftovers and tastes even better the next day. Store in airtight containers; it can last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.