There are just some recipes that remind you of your childhood. For me, this ground beef goulash is one of them. My Mom made this often when I was growing up. And although I really love it now, when I was a child I absolutely HATED green peppers and so this meal wasn’t my favorite.
But my tastes started changing once I became a teen. Suddenly started to like green peppers (isn’t it funny how that happens?) Suddenly, this meal became a comfort food for me. Even now, when I make it, it reminds me of my Mom and eating this as a family while I was growing up.
This dish is fantastic at any time of year. But is especially nice during the hot summer months when you want a nice hot meal, but don’t want to heat up your kitchen! It is fully done on the stovetop, so no oven is necessary, and it’s quick to make as well. This was a dish that my Mom made when the time was tight, and she needed something easy.
This recipe can be made gluten-free by using brown rice or any other gluten-free pasta. I love to serve this with some homemade applesauce. Of course, that was what was served with the goulash when I was a little girl. But it also works well paired with a fresh salad and some gluten-free bread.
I also love to top mine with some parmesan cheese. The cheese just adds that extra yum!
I don’t use a lot of canned goods products because so many companies line their cans with BPA, but I do use canned tomatoes. If you wish to avoid BPA, then find tomatoes in glass jars or look for a BPA-free brand like Eden Foods.
Easy Ground Beef Goulash
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup brown rice or whole wheat elbow macaroni
- 1 can of organic or no-salt added diced tomatoes no sugar added
- 1 small onion chopped
- ½ large green bell pepper
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp basil
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 2- 8 oz cans organic or no-salt added tomato sauce no sugar added or 1 15 oz can
Instructions
- Brown ground beef with the chopped onion and green pepper.
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions.
- Place browned ground beef mixture, and elbow macaroni in a large cooking pot.
- Add other ingredients and mix well
- Allow goulash to heat through well and serve.
Another meat you can go to (assuming you haven’t all ready discovered this since you uploaded this in September) is ground buffalo.
Ground beef has enzymes in it that tend to cause your body to hold onto the fats. I can’t remember all the details, but to be honest, short of having a steak every few months or so, or a regular beef burger every blue moon, I no longer eat or even buy beef for the house. Plus, there are so many antibiotics and hormones pumped into the cattle these days! Ick!
Not sure where you live, so don’t know if it’s even possible for you to even get ahold of it at any price that is worth it. I get it for just over a dollar a pound more than ground beef here in Dallas. All I buy is ground bison and ground turkey these days. Because as good as turkey is, let’s face it, sometimes you just WANT a red meat! *lol*
I’ve been eating clean the last year and a half, and have lost 65 pounds in that time. So much energy it’s stupid! *lol*
Thanks for sharing your version of this recipe!
Yeah, I’ve heard that buffalo meat is a great substitute for beef. I’m really lucky in the fact that we have a butcher locally that uses locally ranched beef that is grass fed and free from any antibiotics or hormones, which is why I use it in my recipes. Buffalo is a little bit more challenging to get here, but you can definitely use either in this recipe!
Congratulations on the weight loss! I know I feel so much better when I eat clean and am losing weight as well! Happy New Year!!