Mom's Goulash Recipe

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Brown the Ground Beef:
- In a large skillet or pot, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat. Break it apart with a spoon or spatula as it cooks.
- Continue cooking until the beef is no longer pink and is browned evenly. This should take about 7-10 minutes.
- Drain any excess fat from the skillet and return the beef to the skillet.

Prepare the Tomato Base:
- Open the can of stewed or diced tomatoes and pour them into a bowl.
- Use a fork or potato masher to mash the tomatoes into smaller pieces. This helps to incorporate them more evenly into the goulash.
- Add the mashed tomatoes, undrained, to the skillet with the browned beef.
Add the Tomato Soup and Seasoning:
- Pour the can of tomato soup into the skillet with the beef and tomatoes.
- Add the package of sloppy joe seasoning mix to the skillet.
- Sprinkle a few pinches of dried parsley over the mixture.
- Stir everything together until well combined.

Simmer the Sauce:
- Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer while you cook the macaroni. This allows the flavors to meld together.
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.

Cook the Macaroni:
- In a separate large pot, bring about 4-6 quarts of water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt to the boiling water.
- Add the elbow macaroni to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions, usually around 7-9 minutes, until al dente.
- Drain the cooked macaroni in a colander and give it a quick rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
Combine and Simmer:
- Add the cooked and drained macaroni to the skillet with the beef and tomato mixture.
- Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
- Let the goulash simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to blend and the sauce to thicken slightly.
Serve:
- Once the goulash has simmered and everything is well combined, remove it from the heat.
- Serve the goulash hot, garnished with an extra sprinkle of parsley if desired.

For added flavor, you can sauté a diced onion and minced garlic with the ground beef.

You can also add a can of drained corn or some diced bell peppers for extra texture and flavor.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Enjoy your delicious and comforting goulash!