Goulash

Goulash

🍅🧀 Cheesy Goulash — The Cozy Hug Your Dinner Table Needs

One pot, a handful of pantry staples, and a whole lot of cheesy, saucy goodness — this goulash is comfort food at its easiest (and yummiest).

This Cheesy Goulash is the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve got dinner totally under control — even if the rest of the day was a little… chaotic. It’s hearty, flavorful, and comes together in one pot (which means fewer dishes — can I get an amen?). We’re talking perfectly seasoned ground beef, a rich tomato base, tender pasta, and a generous blanket of cheddar cheese that melts right in.

It’s:

• Ridiculously easy — minimal chopping, maximum flavor.
• Perfect for feeding a crowd — or for stocking the fridge with leftovers.
• A family favorite — picky eaters, teens, and grown‑ups all say yes to this one.

💬 Reader prompt: Are you a “cheese on top” purist or a “stir it all in” kind of goulash eater?

Ever since I first was married, my husband has been eating a version of  goulash. It had several of these ingredients of this recipe but couldn’t measure up to this dish. It wasn’t ever my favorite or my kids but I’m here to say, you will love this!

It screams comfort food! As a mom, I love how easy it is to make and I had everything I needed to make it in my pantry. I didn’t have to search the grocery store for a ingredient that I have never heard of before.

 

 

👩‍🍳 Cooking Tips for Goulash Greatness

• Toast your spices — stir paprika and Italian seasoning into the beef for 30 seconds before adding liquids to deepen the flavor.
• Don’t overcook the pasta — it will keep absorbing sauce even after you turn off the heat.
• Cheese choice — sharp cheddar gives a nice tang, but Colby Jack or mozzarella work too.
• One‑pot magic — cooking the pasta in the sauce means it soaks up all that flavor.
• Make it creamy — stir in a splash of heavy cream at the end for a richer sauce.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you like your goulash thick and hearty or a little saucier?

🎨 Recipe Variations

• Turkey Twist — swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken.
• Veggie Boost — add diced bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms.
• Spicy Kick — stir in red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños.
• Italian‑Style — use mozzarella and Parmesan instead of cheddar.
• Hungarian‑Inspired — add extra paprika and a dollop of sour cream before serving.

🧒 Kid Tips

• Keep spices mild — paprika is fine, but skip extra heat.
• Let kids sprinkle the cheese — they’ll feel like part of the cooking team.
• Serve with breadsticks for dipping into the sauce.
• Cut pasta smaller for toddlers to make it easier to eat.

💬 Reader prompt: Parents — do your kids eat the pasta first or the cheesy beef?

🛒 Grocery Hacks

• Ground beef — buy in bulk, portion, and freeze.
• Cheese — shred your own for better melt and flavor.
• Tomatoes — keep diced and sauce cans in the pantry for quick meals.
• Pasta — stock up during sales; it lasts forever.
• Onions & garlic — buy in bulk and store in a cool, dark place.

📣 Reader’s Challenge: #GoulashSquad

Here’s your mission:

1. Make this Cheesy Goulash.
2. Put your own spin on it — maybe a veggie boost, a spice twist, or a different cheese.
3. Snap a photo and post with #GoulashSquad.
4. I’ll feature my favorites in an upcoming Friday Favorites post!

♻️ Leftover Remix

• Stuffed Peppers — spoon into halved bell peppers, top with cheese, and bake.
• Cheesy Quesadillas — sandwich between tortillas and grill.
• Soup Starter — add broth for a quick beef‑pasta soup.
• Baked Casserole — top leftovers with breadcrumbs and bake until golden.
• Sloppy Goulash Sandwiches — pile onto toasted buns.

 

 

 

Goulash

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Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 to 4  garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 1 (15 oz.) can beef broth
• 1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
• 1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsps salt
• 2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
• 1 tbsp. ground paprika
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 2 c. small pasta
• 1  1/2 c. cheddar cheese, grated
• Chopped parsley, chives, or dill, optional

Instructions

1. Place the butter in a large dutch oven and place over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute. Add the ground beef, breaking it up into little pieces with a wooden spoon, and cook until no pink remains, about 5 minutes. If a lot of liquid or fat remain in the skillet, drain most and discard.
2. Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup water, Worcestershire sauce, salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, and ground black pepper. Stir to combine and return to a simmer.
3. Add the macaroni and return the pot to a simmer once again. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for about 12 minutes, until the macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and fold in the cheese. Stir until it is completely melted into the sauce. Serve topped with chopped herbs, if you like.

🔢 Calorie Count (Per Serving — Serves 6)

• Calories: ~480
• Protein: 29g
• Carbs: 34g
• Fat: 24g
• Sugar: 6g

📊 Nutritional Facts (Per Serving)

\*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

 

Goulash

Some dinners are just dinners. This Cheesy Goulash? It’s a hug in a bowl, a weeknight hero, and the kind of recipe that makes people wander back into the kitchen for “just one more spoonful” long after the plates are cleared. It’s the smell of onions and garlic sizzling in butter, the sight of paprika‑tinted sauce bubbling gently, and the joy of watching cheddar melt into silky ribbons through the pasta.

I love that it’s a recipe you can make entirely your own. Keep it classic and cozy, or give it a twist — add veggies from your crisper, swap in a different cheese, or turn up the heat with a pinch of cayenne. It’s forgiving, flexible, and always ready to feed whoever shows up at your table. And because it’s all made in one pot, you get maximum flavor with minimal cleanup — which, let’s be honest, is the real weeknight win.

It’s also a dish that sparks conversation. Everyone has a “goulash memory” — maybe it’s Grandma’s Sunday supper, a college roommate’s budget‑friendly version, or the first time you discovered paprika could be more than just a garnish. Sharing those stories over a steaming bowl is part of what makes recipes like this so special.

So here’s my challenge: make it, share it, and tag your creations with #GoulashSquad so we can all drool together, swap ideas, and maybe even inspire the next great goulash variation. I want to see your cheesiest tops, your boldest add‑ins, your “couldn’t wait to take a bite” photos.

Here’s to recipes that bring people together, to meals that taste like home, and to the simple joy of stirring a pot of something wonderful while the people you love gather around. Here’s to you — because you’re about to make something that will have everyone asking, “When are you making this again?” 🍅🧀💛

Did you try our Goulash? What did you think? Did you love it? We would love to hear from you! Please leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram!

 

 

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