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Goulash

This ultimate family favorite is the perfect blend of ground beef, pasta, fresh vegetables, and cheese, perfectly seasoned to create a meal that is quick, easy to make, and super affordable.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 onions chopped, (1 cup)
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped, (¾ cup)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 15 ounce can stewed tomatoes
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 16 ounces elbow macaroni uncooked
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • parsley for garnish

Method
 

  1. Add ground beef, onions, bell pepper, paprika, and garlic to a large stockpot. On medium-high heat, cook until meat is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
  2. Add broth, water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (with liquids), stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Then bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer with a cover on for 30 minutes.
  3. Add the macaroni and stir well. Cover and simmer an additional 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Remove from heat and remove bay leaves.
  5. Stir in shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
  6. Garnish with parsley.

Notes

Grate your own cheddar cheese instead of buying pre-shredded. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in an anti-caking agent causing it to not melt quite as well.
Drain any excess fat so your dish will be less oily. Just pour the beef into a colander, give it a rinse, then put it back in the pot.
If the water is running low and the pasta isn’t quite close to cooked, don’t add cold water. Add very hot tap water – or better yet, boiling water – in 1 cup increments. You don’t want to add too much!