American goulash
A large pot of tomato, beef, vegetables, and macaroni that produces six generous servings.
Recipe source: Budget Bytes
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 60 min
- Makes
- 6 servings
- Budget note
- $12.30 when source was updated
Directions
- 1
Cook the vegetables
Heat the oil in a large pot. Cook onion and garlic over medium heat until softened, then add bell peppers and cook 2 minutes more.
- 2
Brown the meat
Add ground beef and cook until no pink remains. Pour in the wine or broth and scrape the bottom of the pot.
- 3
Build the sauce
Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves, herbs, crushed red pepper, and water. Cover, bring to a boil, then simmer on low for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 4
Cook the macaroni
Stir in the dry macaroni. Cover and simmer, stirring from time to time, until tender, about 10–12 minutes.
- 5
Finish
Remove the bay leaves and season with salt before serving.
Make it work with what you have
Use beef broth instead of wine. Ground turkey, pork, or plant-based crumbles can replace the beef.
Simple and filling
Everything cooks in one pot, and the sauce can carry extra vegetables or a less expensive ground meat without changing the basic method.
Storage
Cool and refrigerate for up to 4 days, or freeze portions for up to 3 months. Thaw safely and reheat until steaming.
Stretch this meal further
These are Helping Plate’s practical additions for shopping carefully and cooking with food-distribution staples.
- Replace half the ground meat with cooked lentils to increase the number of servings.
- Freeze individual portions before the pasta becomes too soft from repeated reheating.
- A spoonful of tomato paste adds depth when the canned tomatoes taste mild.
Equipment
Large heavy pot with lid · Knife and cutting board · Wooden spoon
Dietary notes
Dairy-free · Egg-free
Check for allergens
Soy · Wheat; verify the pasta label · Alcohol if wine is used
Watch the original how-to
Video by Budget Bytes. Helping Plate provides an independently written, pantry-friendly guide and links back to the original creator.
