One Pot American Goulash

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 bell peppers
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup red wine*
• 1 28oz. can diced tomatoes
• 1 15oz. can tomato sauce
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 2 whole bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp basil
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• salt to taste

Directions

1. Chop the onion into small pieces and finely mince the garlic. Warm the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat, then cook the onion and garlic until the onion looks clear and softened. As they cook, chop the bell peppers, add them to the pot, and cook everything together for about 2 minutes longer.
2. Add the ground beef to the vegetables and keep cooking over medium heat until the beef is fully cooked. Pour in the red wine, scraping and stirring to loosen the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
3. Stir in the diced tomatoes with their juices, tomato sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves, oregano, basil, crushed red pepper, and water. Mix well, cover the pot, and bring everything to a boil. When it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce, covered, for 30 minutes, stirring now and then.
4. When the sauce has simmered for 30 minutes, stir in the macaroni. Cover the pot again and let the pasta cook in the sauce, stirring occasionally, until the macaroni is tender, about 10-12 minutes.
5. Taste the goulash once the pasta is tender, then season with salt as needed. Take out the bay leaves before serving.