Chef John's American Goulash

One of my all-time favorite comfort food meals growing up was the beef goulash they served in my school cafeteria alongside a slice of buttered white bread and a carton of milk. Little did I know that it wasn't really goulash, but an Americanized version, invented to stretch a small amount of beef into enough food for a not-so-small family. This is one of those very simple dishes that does not taste simple--perfect for your weeknight dinner rotation.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 336 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 quart chicken broth
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
• ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
• 1 cup shredded white Cheddar cheese (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and ground beef. Cook, breaking the meat into small pieces, until browned, about 5 minutes. Cook and stir until liquid is evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes more. Add garlic, salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves.

Step 2

Cook and stir until flavors come together, about 3 minutes. Pour in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and marinara sauce. Rinse out the jar with 1 cup water and pour into the pot. Add soy sauce, stir, and bring soup to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and simmer to let flavors intensify, about 30 minutes.

Step 3

Increase heat to medium-high and bring soup to a simmer. Add macaroni; simmer, stirring occasionally, until just barely tender, about 12 minutes. Check for doneness after 10 minutes.

Step 4

Remove goulash from heat. Discard bay leaves; stir in parsley and Cheddar cheese. Cover and let rest for 5 minutes. Taste and season as desired.