Our Family's Version of Good-ole Goulash

Good-ole Goulash

Goulash is a great meal and a good comfort food.  This dish is quick and easy to make and so versatile!  But you can ask every cook in our family and each will have a different version of how to make it.  I'm sharing below the way we make it in our home.
            Cris 

My husband prefers his Goulash heavy on the meat.

I prefer my Goulash heavy on the pasta.

Makes about 6 servings (or less - depending on how hungry they are!)



Ingredients

2-3 cups cooked elbow macaroni (prepare according to package directions)

1 lb. very lean ground beef (you can substitute ground turkey if you want)
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 16 oz. can diced tomatoes (drain off the liquid and set aside)
½ to 2/3 cup tomato sauce
1 tbsp. McCormick Montreal Steak seasoning mix
½ tesp. dried Basil
½ tesp. pepper
½ tesp. salt
½ tesp. Texas Pete (optional)

Directions

In a large skillet, sprinkle the ground beef with the Montreal Steak seasoning and cook until the meat is almost done, breaking it up into little pieces as it cooks.

When the meat is about done, add in the chopped bell peppers and chopped onions.  Saute until the vegetables start to get tender. 

Add in the diced tomatoes and the tomato sauce, salt, pepper, and Basil.  Stir to combine.

Stir in the cooked macaroni.  (Use as much or as little as you prefer for the meat to pasta ratio.)  

Over low heat, simmer the goulash for a few minutes to get everything hot.

If the mixture seems too dry, add in the liquid drained from the canned tomatoes.

When ready to serve, stir in the Texas Pete.


If you do not have or don't want to use the Montreal Steak seasoning, you can season with a little paprika and garlic powder.

Also, you can use red, yellow, and/or red sweet bell peppers with or in place of the green bell pepper.

Fresh tomatoes can be used in place of the canned tomatoes.  Remove the stems and skin from the tomatoes and dice them.  You will not have as much liquid as from the canned tomatoes so add a little more tomato sauce.

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