Baked American Goulash

Craving a quick and comforting dinner? Our Baked American Goulash delivers with tender pasta, savory ground beef, and a rich tomato sauce, all baked to perfection under a blanket of melted cheese – a simple, satisfying, and budget-friendly dish that's a guaranteed hit with the whole family.
Time Table
- 10 minutes: Food prep (chopping onion, garlic, bell pepper)
- 5 minutes: Cooking beef
- 3-5 minutes: Cooking onion and bell pepper
- 1/2 minutes: Cooking garlic
- 5 minutes: Assembling dish
- 35-40 minutes: Baking dish to develop flavor
- 5-10 minutes: Baking dish with cheese topping
- 10-15 minutes: Resting
This dish takes at most 1 hour and 30 minutes from start to serve.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup diced onion (about 1 medium onion)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 1 cup diced green bell pepper (optional)
- 1 can (15 oz diced tomatoes, undrained)
- 1 can (15 oz tomato sauce)
- 1 1/4 cups beef broth (or water with bouillon)
- 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper (optional)
- 1 1/4 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite melting cheese)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 6 tsp fresh Parsley (chopped (for garnish))
Preheat the Oven
- Set your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Prepare the Meat Sauce
- Cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat and set in heat safe bowl.
- Add 1 cup onion and 1 cup diced green bell pepper. If needed, add up to 3 tsp of oil to prevent sticking and enhance flavor. Sauté until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add beef back into pan.
- Stir in 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce, 1 1/4 cups beef broth, 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 3 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
Assemble in a Baking Dish
Pour the sauce mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Bake to Develop Flavor
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil to retain moisture and bake for 25 Minutes.
Bake Pasta
- Add pasta making sure to stir well. Return to the oven covered and bake for about 10 minutes.
- Add the Cheese Topping
- Remove the foil and sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
Rest and Serve
- Let the goulash rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.