I've tried dozens of goulash recipes over the last 40 years, but every time, there was something sort of "missing". A few times, I got "close, but no cigar".
Well, today, I tried it again, and with the very first bite, I heard my picky-picky husband say, "M-m-m-m, that's g-o-o-d", so I knew I finally found the right recipe. It is total comfort food.
1 pound (90% lean)ground beef
1 pound (mild) sweet Italian sausage
1 cup onion (diced small)
1 red bell pepper (diced small)
6 ounce tomato paste
15 ounce can of (small dice) tomatoes
(2)15 ounce cans beef broth
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (not salt)
1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons dry basil leaves
1 teaspoon dry oregano leaves
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (more if you like heat)
2 1/2 cups UNCOOKED rotini noodles
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded (it's very creamy)
Brown the burger and sausage and drain if necessary and set aside.
In the same pan, sautee the onions and red bell pepper until the onions start to smell sweet. Add the seasonings + the tomato paste + the diced tomatoes + the beef broth + the Worcestershire sauce, sugar and cooked meat. Mix well and put into a (large) crockpot.
After about 4 hours (on high) add the UNCOOKED noodles and push them down into the sauce. Cover and let them cook in the sauce for about half an hour.
After half an hour, test to make sure the noodles are done (different size and shape cook at different rates).
Once the noodles are done, stir in BOTH cheese's and put the lid back on. Let it all sit for about 5 minutes to melt the cheese. That's it!! Easy-peasy.
