This dish is as fun to eat as it is to say…goulash. Gouuuulash. It’s just a fun word, am I wrong?! Just say it a few times and you’ll be on board.

The best way to describe this meal is just humble, simple, and good. There are no bells and whistles, no fancy ingredients, not a lot of prep, not a super long cook time – it’s just homey and cozy and simple! And I love that about this meal. Especially because, even though it is simple and easy, it tastes ah-maziiiiing – with a capital “A.”

This meal reminds me of my childhood, not only because I did indeed eat this pretty often growing up, but also because it’s just simple, easy, all-American food…ground beef, tomato-y, meaty broth, and soft macaroni. Does it get any better??

So here’s what we’ve got happening:

You start out by browning some ground beef and then throwing in some onion, bell pepper, and garlic and cooking until those veggies get nice and soft.
Then we throw in some canned diced tomatoes + some beef stock and bring that to a simmer.
Let that simmer for about twenty minutes and then throw in your macaroni. Let your macaroni cook for about ten minutes, until it’s soft and tender.
Stir in some soy sauce (for an extra punch of savory depth of flavor) and cheddar cheese (because…cheese), and you’re done!

How easy is that? It’s not really a soup or stew…but it’s not really a saucy pasta dish…it’s kind of a mix between the two…it’s goulash – only way to describe it 😌!

Super Simple Goulash

Author: Annie Chesson
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz can diced tomatoes
3 cups beef broth
8 oz macaroni noodles (about half a box)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

In a large pot, heat some olive oil over medium high heat. Add your ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and brown
When browned, add your pepper, onion, and garlic + some salt and pepper. Saute until the veggies start to get soft
To this, add your diced tomatoes and beef broth + salt and pepper
Bring to a simmer, turn the heat down to low, and simmer, covered, for twenty minutes
Stir in your macaroni and simmer/boil for about 10 more minutes, or until the macaroni is tender and cooked through
Remove from the heat and stir in your soy sauce. Let the goulash cool for a few minutes and then stir in your cheddar cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper!