G̲o̲u̲l̲a̲s̲h̲??⁠ Isn’t that what you put on your feet when it’s raining outside?⁠ 😜

As the youngest of nine children, it’s surprising that I don’t remember my mom making goulash. It seems like it is a perfect one-pot meal to feed a family. Maybe she didn’t have a pot big enough for eleven?? ⁠Brian, on the other hand, grew up with goulash and occasionally requests it for dinner.

I’ve pieced together a few recipes I’ve tried and have come up with this version that seems to please us both. ⁠⁠I like it because it’s a cook once and eat two or three times. And these are leftovers to which no one objects.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs Lean Ground Beef (or Ground Turkey if you prefer)
• 2 Yellow Onions Diced
• 2 Red Bell Peppers Diced
• 4 Garlic Cloves Peeled and Minced
• 1 heaping tbsp Paprika
• 1/2 tbsp Oregano
• 1 tsp Thyme
• 3-4 Bay Leaves
• 1 tsp Red Chili Pepper Flakes
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt, More or less to taste
• 1/2 tsp Pepper, More or less to taste
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
• 30 oz Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes Canned
• 23 oz Tomato Sauce Canned
• 2 cups Beef Stock Or 2 cups of water and 2 tsp stock concentrate like Better than Bouillon
• 3 cups Dried Macaroni
• Sour Cream (optional for serving)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Brown the ground beef in the pot, breaking up as you go. ⁠
2. Drain all but 1 Tablespoon of fat from the pot.⁠
3. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Add onions and bell peppers and sauté about 5 minutes or until soft.⁠
4. Add garlic and sauté for about 1 minute or until fragrant.⁠
5. Add spices and sauté for about 30 seconds until well mixed in and fragrant.⁠
6. Deglaze the pot with the Worcestershire sauce. ⁠(To deglaze a pot, with the heat still under the pan, scrape the bottom with a wooden spatula or spoon vigorously as the liquid comes to a boil. Do not let it boil for more than a few seconds and make sure you’ve released all the meat from the pan.)
7. Add the tomatoes and the beef stock. And simmer on low for twenty minutes.⁠
8. Add macaroni and cook for 10-14 minutes more or until the pasta is cooked through.⁠
9. Serve in bowls topped with sour cream (if using)

Want to cook this goulash in a pressure cooker?

If you want to cook this recipe in the instant pot or another type of pressure cooker, prepare through step #7 with the pressure cooker on high saute. In step 8, seal the pressure cooker with the lid (vent closed) after you add the macaroni noodles. Cook on manual high pressure for 4 minutes. Quick release.

What wine goes best with goulash?

I suggest pairing this recipe with Really Good Boxed Wine‘s Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is hearty to go with this hearty dish. The fruit flavors will bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes and the bell peppers in the dish, and the hint of herbaceousness will bring out the spice.

Better yet, since the wine is in a box, you can have a glass later in the week when you eat the leftovers! You can learn more about this brand in my blog The Best Wine for RVers.

Don’t forget to use “ONTHEROAD” to save 10% when you order from Really Good Boxed Wine!