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Grandma's american goulash on a white plate with a black fork on the side
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3.96 from 181 votes

Grandma's American Goulash

Grandma's American goulash is a classic comforting meal you can make with a little time on any budget. Featuring cheese, tomato broth, noodles, and beef, this hearty dinner will feed even the biggest appetites anytime.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dinner, Entree, Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 603kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large white onion, diced
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 15 oz cans tomato sauce
  • 2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 2 1/2 cups cavatelli pasta
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Heat a dutch oven over medium high heat, add the ground beef, olive oil, garlic, & onions and stir everything together, breaking the meat up as you go- cooking until the meat is browned and cooked through. Drain, and return the mixture to the pot.
  • Stir in the water, broth, both tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves. Lower the heat, bringing the mixture to a simmer. Cover, and let cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
  • Stir in the pasta, cover, and continue simmering an additional 30 minutes- stirring occasionally, until the pasta's cooked through.
  • Remove the bay leaves, and salt & pepper, to taste. Stir in the mozzarella cheese until evenly combined.
  • Serve immediately, scooping into bowls, and topping with the shredded cheddar.

Notes

  • Use leaner ground beef so there is less fat to drain.
  • Don't sub the beef broth for water. The beef broth adds extra richness and makes it feel slow cooked.
  • Stir occasionally throughout the cooking process to make sure everything cooks evenly and doesn't stick together.

Nutrition

Calories: 603kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 272mg | Potassium: 460mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 1.4mg | Calcium: 167mg | Iron: 3.2mg