American Goulash is my kind of comfort food! It’s rich, savory, and full of that cozy, tomato-y goodness. It’s hearty, easy to make, and one bite will have you hooked just like my family is!
A Reader’s Review
Perfect. Followed the recipe! Tasted better than my Mom’s! Thank you for sharing.
TeriHow This Goulash Stole My Heart (and Fork)
One-pot: Everything cooks together in a single pot, which means less cleanup and more flavor as the pasta soaks up the rich, seasoned sauce.Family-friendly: Kids love it, but it’s also packed with hearty, comforting flavor that adults can feel good about!Freezer-friendly: Perfect for meal prep! Make a batch, freeze it, and enjoy the same rich flavor and texture!How To Make American Goulash
Making this classic American goulash recipe couldn’t be easier. Cook the beef and onion, and then throw everything together and let it simmer. You’ll have time to make my 1-hour rolls and green goddess salad to have on the side.
Brown the Meat: Add 2 pounds of ground beef to a large stockpot over medium high heat. Cook and brown the beef for 7-8 minutes. Remove the meat from the pot and drain, leaving about 1-2 tablespoons of grease in the pot.Cook the Onion: Add diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat until tender. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.Make Soup Base: Return the cooked beef to the pot. Addwater, beef base, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, paprika, black pepper, and bay leaves. Stir to combine, then bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.Add Noodles & Simmer: Stir in uncooked noodles. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom. Just before serving, stir in cheese. Garnish your goulash with fresh chopped Italian parsley on top before serving!
What’s the Difference Between Hungarian and American Goulash?
Hungarian goulash is a hearty stew loaded with meat, vegetables, and plenty of paprika. Hungarian sometimes uses dumplings or potatoes instead of pasta. American goulash skips the extra veggies (aside from the tomato based sauce) and goes all-in with macaroni noodles and cheese. You might also hear it called “American chop suey.”
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Classic American Goulash
#wprm-recipe-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #343434; }#wprm-recipe-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-rating-0-33); }#wprm-recipe-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-rating-0-50); }#wprm-recipe-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-rating-0-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-rating-0-33 stop { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-rating-0-50 stop { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-rating-0-66 stop { stop-color: #343434; }Cozy, hearty, and full of flavor, this American Goulash combines tender pasta, seasoned ground beef, and a rich tomato sauce for the ultimate one-pot comfort food.Course DinnerCuisine AmericanKeyword american goulash, american goulash recipe, goulashPrep Time 10 minutesminutesCook Time 50 minutesminutesTotal Time 1 hourhourServings 8ServingsCalories 481kcalAuthor Alyssa RiversIngredients
2poundsground beef1largediced onion4clovesminced garlic3cupswater1tablespoonbeef baseor bouillon2(15-ounce)cans tomato sauce2(15-ounce)cans diced tomatoes(one petite diced)3tablespoonssoy sauce2tablespoonsItalian seasoning1tablespoonseasoned salt2teaspoonspaprikateaspoonblack pepper3bay leaves2cupselbow macaroni noodlesuncooked1cupshredded cheddar cheesefresh chopped Italian parsleyfor garnishInstructions
Add 2 pounds ground beef to a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Cook and brown the beef for 7-8 minutes. Remove the meat from the pot and drain, leaving about 1-2 tablespoons of grease in the pot.Add 1 large diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat until tender. Add 4 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.Return the cooked beef to the pot. Add 3 cups water1 tablespoon beef base2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes3 tablespoons soy sauce2 tablespoons Italian seasoning1 tablespoon seasoned salt2 teaspoons paprika½ teaspoon black pepper, and 3 bay leaves. Stir to combine, then bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.Stir in 2 cups elbow macaroni noodles. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom.Just before serving, stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Garnish with fresh chopped Italian parsley on top before serving!Video
Notes
LeftoversFridge: Store cooled goulash in an airtight container for 3–4 days.Freezer: Freeze in a labeled, airtight container or bag for up to 3 months.Reheat: From fridge—warm on stove or microwave in 1–2 min intervals. From freezer—thaw overnight, then reheat on stove.Nutrition
Calories: 481kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 33gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 1607mgPotassium: 456mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 414IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 4mg
More Hearty Soups to Try
When it gets cold outside, I love making a big pot of soup! It warms my soul as well as my heart! Here are some of my favorites!
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