Chef John's Classic American Goulash

Name: Chef John's Classic American Goulash
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 0.5 tsp Black Pepper; 1 dash Cayenne Pepper; 1 qt Chicken Broth; 15 oz Diced Tomatoes; 2 whole Dried Bay Leaves; 0.25 cup Fresh Parsley; 4 cloves Garlic; 2 lb Ground Beef; 2 tsp Italian Seasoning; 2 cups Macaroni; 24 oz Marinara Sauce; 1 tbsp Olive Oil; 2 tbsp Paprika; 2 tsp Salt; 1 cup Shredded White Cheddar Cheese; 2 tbsp Soy Sauce; 1 cup Water; 1 whole Yellow Onion

Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪 American Comfort-Food

Chef John's Classic American Goulash brings tender elbow macaroni and juicy ground beef together in a rich, tomato-forward sauce with paprika, Italian herbs, and a hint of cayenne. The slow-simmered broth and marinara blend give it comforting depth and gentle heat. Serve it on cool evenings or for an easy family dinner when you want a hearty, nostalgic bowl.

Prep15 mins
Cook1 hr 5 mins
Serves12
DifficultyEasy

1

Assemble all the ingredients.
2

Heat oil in a pot over medium-high. Add ground beef and onion; cook and stir until the beef is browned and crumbly and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Keep cooking and stirring until the liquid cooks off, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, bay leaves, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and cayenne.
3

Cook, stirring now and then, until the flavors meld, about 3 minutes. Add the broth, marinara sauce, and diced tomatoes. Pour water into the sauce jar, swirl, and add it to the pot. Stir in soy sauce; bring to a simmer. Lower the heat to medium and simmer until the flavors deepen, about 30 minutes.
4

Raise the heat to medium-high and bring to a strong simmer. Stir in the macaroni; cook, stirring occasionally, until just barely tender, about 12 minutes. Begin checking for doneness after 10 minutes.
5

Take off the heat and discard the bay leaves. Stir in Cheddar and parsley. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.