Quick One-Pot Goulash for Two (Easy & Budget-Friendly)

A simple, pantry-friendly one-pot goulash that’s budget-friendly, filling, and often stretches into leftovers for another meal.

Servings: 2 generous servings (often with leftovers)

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: About 25 minutes

🛒 Ingredients

½ lb ground beef
½ jar or ½ can spaghetti sauce
1 cup elbow macaroni
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt

🧑‍🍳 Instructions

In a medium saucepan, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess grease and set meat aside.
In the same pot, add water and salt. Bring to a boil.
Add the elbow macaroni and cook to al dente, stirring occasionally so pasta cooks evenly.
When pasta is almost done, stir in the cooked ground beef and spaghetti sauce.
Continue cooking until the macaroni reaches your preferred tenderness. Adjust consistency with a little extra water if needed.

🔄 Options & Variations

Soupier or thicker: Leave some cooking water for a goulash-style soup, or drain for a thicker, spaghetti-style dish.
Protein swaps: Use ground sausage for more flavor or ground turkey for extra savings.
Add-ins: Onion, bell peppers, frozen mixed vegetables, or extra seasoning all work well.
Serving idea: Serve with crusty bread or garlic toast.

Budget Breakdown (at time of publishing)

Made with ground beef: $4.11
Made with ground turkey: $2.27
Using meat-flavored spaghetti sauce: $1.28
Bonus: This recipe often makes enough for up to 3 meals

🧰 Equipment

Medium Saucepan or Dutch Oven – one pot keeps cleanup easy
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Meat Chopper – breaks ground meat quickly and evenly
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Colander – for draining meat or pasta if desired
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Cooking Spoon – for stirring and combining
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