American goulash is easy to make and classic comfort food. What’s not to love about ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni noodles? This is the perfect food to make when you need something yummy in a pinch, and it’s also great for storing in the fridge or freezer until you need something delicious quickly.
If you have picky eaters in your family, you will doubtless win them over with goulash. Here’s what you need to know about how to make goulash.
Ingredients
The ingredients used to make a wonderful goulash are simple and wholesome. You can substitute and vary these ingredients pretty dramatically in order to arrive at a delicious goulash, but here is a list of ingredients guaranteed to produce a flavor that your family will love.
● A big pot. Goulash is made in one big pot from beginning to end. This is one of the most attractive things about this easy to make and clean up after meal.
● Fat. Olive oil or butter will work, but you need something in which to saute the veggies.
● Onions. Onions are full of flavor and healthy vitamins and minerals. If your family isn’t a big fan, dice them small so they vanish in the sauce.
● Bell pepper. Bell peppers have lots of flavor and health benefits.
● Garlic. Fresh garlic is great, but if you are in a rush, go with the powdered variety.
● Paprika. Paprika offers a lovely spicy taste and brightens the red color of your goulash.
● Ground beef. Ground turkey or ground sausage work too, but ground beef is the standard.
● Italian herbs. Whether you want to chop oregano from your yard or go with a mixed spice of Italian herbs, the choice is yours.
● Salty sauce. Worcestershire or soy sauce gives your goulash a little bit of umami flavor
● Tomato paste, sauce, and diced tomatoes. Goulash depends on tomatoes. If you’re in a pinch or your family doesn’t like chunks of tomatoes, skip the diced tomatoes.
● Bay leaves. Make sure you remove these flavor adding herbs before serving.
● Beef broth. You could use water, but beef broth makes your goulash so much richer.
● Elbow macaroni. Any small pasta works well, but elbow macaroni is traditional and available.
● Cheddar cheese. Everything’s better with cheese, right? Cheddar is a great choice, but you can try another type of cheese if you prefer.
How to Make Your American Goulash
- Heat your olive oil or butter in your pot. Add the onions and saute for 5 to 6 minutes until they start to soften. Add the bell pepper and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, then stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the spices. Add everything but the bay leaves and Italian seasoning. They should be added when there is more moisture.
- Brown the meat. Add your meat to the pot and use a wooden spatula to break it up and brown evenly as it cooks.
- Add tomatoes, salty sauce, bay leaves, and Italian seasoning. Mix well to combine before adding the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Bring to a simmer before adding the bay leaves and then immediately reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, occasionally stirring.
- Add noodles and broth and bring to a simmer. Cover and continue to cook for another 12 minutes until the noodles are done.
- Add cheese and serve. Remove from the heat, stir in shredded cheese, and serve.
Looking For an Easy, Wholesome Meal? Choose Goulash
If you are looking for something easy to make and store that reheats wonderfully and is sure to please your entire family, including the kids, try out goulash tonight. As you develop your goulash skills, you’ll find that you can make delicious recipes with all kinds of things that you often have on hand. Goulash is sure to become a family favorite in your household.
