In your large Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until it is fully brown. Break the meat into small crumbles with your spoon so it mixes well with the other ingredients.

Add the chopped onions and minced garlic to the pot with the cooked beef and stir them well. Cook for about five minutes until the onions are soft, translucent, and smell very fragrant in your kitchen.

Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and the three cups of water into the beef and onion mixture. Stir everything together until the sauce is even and starts to simmer gently over medium heat.

If you love building deep tomato flavor this way, you might also enjoy this slow-simmered beef and pasta dish that uses a similar layering technique — it is another crowd-pleaser worth bookmarking.

Stir in the soy sauce, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, seasoned salt, and the black pepper into the sauce. These spices are the secret to the deep and savory flavor that makes this goulash so famous.

Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid to trap the heat. Let the sauce simmer for twenty minutes so all the flavors can blend together into a rich base.

Add the uncooked elbow macaroni directly into the simmering sauce and stir well to prevent any sticking. Replace the lid and continue to cook the mixture over a low heat for fifteen more minutes.

Remove the lid and check if the pasta is tender and has soaked up the savory tomato juices. If the noodles are still firm, cook for another five minutes until they are perfectly soft and delicious.

Find the two bay leaves and remove them from the pot before you start to serve your guests. You want the flavor of the leaves but you do not want anyone to accidentally eat one.

Turn off the heat and let the goulash sit for five minutes before you begin to dish it out. This resting time helps the sauce thicken up and stick to the noodles for a better texture.

Spoon the hot goulash into large bowls and serve it while it is still steaming and very fresh. You can add a little bit of cheese on top if your family likes an extra creamy finish.