Description
A comforting, one-pot weeknight dinner featuring tender egg noodles, savory ground beef, and a rich cheddar cheese sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 fat ratio)
- 8 ounces egg noodles
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth (low sodium)
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break into small crumbles. Cook until no longer pink, then remove beef from pan and set aside, leaving some grease in the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the pan. Once melted, add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and paprika, stirring constantly for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in tomato sauce and beef broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Return the cooked beef to the pan and stir in mustard. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- While sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook egg noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain well without rinsing.
- Return drained noodles to the sauce (or add sauce to noodles). Stir to coat evenly. Remove pan from heat.
- Gradually add shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until melted and creamy. If too thick, add a splash of milk or broth. If too thin, let sit for a minute to thicken.
- Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
Grate your own cheese for a smoother sauce; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy. Do not rinse the noodles after draining to help the sauce cling. For a one-pot method, cook noodles directly in the sauce with 2 extra cups of broth. Leftovers freeze well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: cheesy ground beef goulash, weeknight dinner, one pot meal, easy dinner, egg noodles, comfort food, family friendly