Easy One-Pot Ground Beef Goulash
Recipe ByAshley |
UpdatedJuly 15, 2026 |
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Hey friends! Ashley here. If there is one dish that is pure weeknight comfort in a pot, it’s this ground beef goulash. Tender macaroni cooked right in a rich, savory tomato sauce with ground beef, a generous dose of Italian seasoning, and a big handful of melted cheddar cheese on top. It’s hearty, satisfying, and comes together in one single pot in about 40 minutes. Y’all, this is the kind of meal that makes the kitchen smell like home and gets everyone to the table fast. No arguments, no substitutions requested — just clean plates all around!
Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef Goulash
- Truly one pot: pasta cooks in the sauce, which means incredible flavor absorption and only one pan to wash.
- Deep, layered flavor: Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves build a sauce that tastes like it simmered all day.
- Feeds a crowd: seven generous servings from one pot. Perfect for feeding a big family or meal prepping for the week.
- Budget-friendly: ground beef, canned tomatoes, macaroni, and pantry spices. A full pot of comfort for very little cost.
- Tastes even better the next day: leftovers are absolutely incredible as the flavors continue to develop overnight.
This is exactly the kind of imperfectly perfect comfort food that I come back to again and again. Simple ingredients, big rewards — that’s my kind of cooking!
What Goes Into This Ground Beef Goulash
This ground beef goulash gets its incredible depth of flavor from a few key ingredients working together. Let me walk you through them:
Ground beef — two pounds of ground beef gives this goulash a hearty, substantial texture. I like to get the beef nicely browned and caramelized at the edges before adding the liquids — that browning creates so much extra flavor that you just cannot get any other way. Drain most of the fat but leave a thin layer for richness!
The triple tomato base — tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, AND beef broth create a rich, layered liquid that the pasta absorbs as it cooks. Don’t be tempted to reduce the amount of liquid — it all gets soaked up and you want every bit of that flavor in the final dish.
Worcestershire sauce — three tablespoons might sound like a lot, but this is the secret weapon that adds a deep, savory, almost umami richness to the sauce. It rounds out all the tomato acidity and makes the whole dish taste complex and slow-cooked even though it isn’t!
The spice blend — Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and seasoned salt work together to create a warm, aromatic flavor profile. The bay leaves simmer in the sauce and add a subtle herbal note — just remember to fish them out before serving!
Macaroni and cheddar — two cups of macaroni cooked right in the sauce, then finished with a full cup and a quarter of shredded cheddar. The cheese melts into the sauce creating a rich, silky finish that makes every bite absolutely irresistible.
Let’s Cook!
- Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper, cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Step 2: Add ground beef, break apart with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 8–10 minutes. Drain most of the fat, leaving a thin layer.
- Step 3: Add minced garlic and stir 30 seconds. Add smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, and Worcestershire sauce — stir 10–15 seconds to coat.
- Step 4: Pour in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and beef broth. Add bay leaves and macaroni. Stir thoroughly to submerge the pasta.
- Step 5: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered 18–22 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until pasta is tender.
- Step 6: Remove bay leaves. Stir in shredded cheddar until melted. Rest 1–2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot!
Ashley’s Pro-Tips
Brown the beef well — don’t rush this step. Those caramelized edges on the beef are pure flavor and make this goulash taste slow-cooked and deep.
Stir every 5 minutes — the pasta can sink and stick to the bottom if left alone too long. Regular stirring keeps everything cooking evenly.
Don’t forget the bay leaves — add them in, but set yourself a reminder to fish them all out before stirring in the cheese!
Shred your own cheese — freshly grated cheddar melts much more smoothly than pre-shredded. Worth the extra two minutes of effort!
Storage & Pairing
Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Add a splash of beef broth when reheating — the pasta continues to absorb liquid as it sits.
Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Pasta softens slightly after freezing but the flavor is fantastic. Reheat on the stovetop with a little broth.
Serve with: Crusty garlic bread, a simple Caesar salad, or steamed green beans. A glass of red wine for the grown-ups makes this feel very elevated!
A Little Joy on Top
If you love hearty, one-pot comfort meals like this ground beef goulash, you have got to try my Easy 30-Minute Healthy Orange Chicken — it’s another family favorite that goes from pantry to table incredibly fast!
For another cozy, kid-approved dinner, my Easy Low Carb Chicken Parm Casserole is always a massive hit and so satisfying.
And to round out the meal with a show-stopping dessert, my Easy Homemade Brownies are pure pantry-staple magic and better than any box mix — I promise!
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Easy One-Pot Ground Beef Goulash Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper, cooking 3–4 minutes until softened. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart, until browned — about 8–10 minutes. Drain excess fat, leaving a thin layer.
- Add minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, and Worcestershire sauce, stirring 10–15 seconds to coat.
- Pour in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and beef broth. Add bay leaves and macaroni. Stir thoroughly to submerge the pasta.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low. Simmer uncovered 18–22 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until pasta is tender.
- Remove and discard bay leaves. Stir in shredded cheddar until fully melted. Let rest 1–2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot!
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Meet Ashleybakeseasy
Welcome to Ashley Bakes Easy! I’m Ashley, a home cook and mother who believes that delicious food doesn’t have to be complicated. My journey in the kitchen started with a simple goal: create meals that my whole family would love, we could afford on a single income, and create recipes tailored for our special needs son Winston.
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Hello Form Ashleybakeseasy
Welcome to Ashley Bakes Easy! I’m Ashley, a home cook and mother who believes that delicious food doesn’t have to be complicated. My journey in the kitchen started with a simple goal: create meals that my whole family would love, we could afford on a single income, and create recipes tailored for our special needs son Winston.
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