Chef John's Classic American Goulash

Ingredients List

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 2 pounds ground beef

• 1 large onion, diced

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 large bay leaves

• 2 tablespoons paprika

• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt

• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

• 1 quart chicken broth

• 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce

• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes

• 1 cup water

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 cups elbow macaroni

• ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley

• 1 cup shredded white Cheddar cheese (Optional)

Instructions

Make sure to collect all the necessary ingredients before starting.

Heat oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onions, cooking and stirring until the beef is browned and crumbled, and the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Continue cooking for another 3 to 5 minutes until the liquid evaporates. Stir in garlic, bay leaves, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and cayenne.

Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes until the flavors meld together. Add the broth, marinara sauce, and diced tomatoes. Pour a bit of water into the sauce jar, swirl it to collect the remaining sauce, and add it to the pot. Stir in soy sauce, bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium and let it simmer for about 30 minutes to deepen the flavors.

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

Chef's Tips

Nutritional Information (per serving)