This easy goulash recipe is the ultimate comfort food dinner that’s quick to make with macaroni noodles, ground beef, tomatoes, and melty cheese all simmered in one pot and on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Even My Picky Eaters Love this Goulash Recipe
Whenever I need something quick and easy, this American goulash is my go-to recipe for busy weeknights. All it takes is a few pantry staples to make! Plus it feeds a crowd for fairly cheap! Serve it with garlic bread and a salad if you’d like.
It’s great to make ahead too. You can freeze it after making a big batch. Just place it in a freezer friendly casserole dish or disposable aluminum foil pan and cover with foil before freezing.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
The complete list of ingredients with amounts are listed in the full recipe card below.
- Ground beef – I like to use 90% or higher lean ground beef (hamburger meat) to reduce greasiness. Ground turkey, ground chicken or plant based crumbles also work.
- Onion – I dice a yellow or white onion.
- Garlic – Freshly minced garlic is my favorite to use but use jarred minced or a tablespoon of garlic powder if that’s all you have.
- Italian seasoning – If you don’t have a jar of Italian seasoning, just substitute one teaspoon of dried oregano and one teaspoon of dried basil.
- Soy sauce – I have also swapped this for Worcestershire sauce.
- Paprika, Salt and pepper
- Beef broth – I usually use low sodium broth. Feel fee to use water, chicken broth, or veggie broth.
- Diced tomatoes – Use one can of any brand diced tomatoes with their juice. I have also just used a big jar of marinara sauce or homemade marinara sauce instead of these 2 can of tomatoes.
- Tomato sauce – One can for more tomato flavor. You can also use another can of diced tomatoes if you’d like.
- Elbow macaroni – Classic for goulash, but other small pastas like shells, fusilli, or penne work just as good. You can also use gluten free noodles, just be sure not to overcook them or they will become mushy.
- Shredded cheddar cheese – Freshly shredded melts the best for creaminess. I like sharp cheddar cheese but use any favorites like colby, mozzarella, or a mix of a few.
- Parmesan cheese or Romano cheese
Variations to Try
1. Add more veggies like red bell pepper, green bell pepper, corn, sliced white mushrooms or zucchini.
2. Make it spicy by adding ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
3. Stir in a ½ cup of sour cream, greek yogurt or cream cheese for an even creamier sauce.
How to Make Our Classic American Goulash
This is one of the first things I learned to make all by myself as a child. So of course I loved teaching my kids how to make it too!
Step 1: In a dutch oven large skillet or large pot, add the diced onion and ground beef and brown over medium-high heat breaking into pieces until cooked all the way through. Drain off any excess fat.
Step 2: Add in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, soy sauce, paprika, salt and pepper and stir to combine well.
Step 3: Add in the canned tomatoes and the beef broth and stir together.
Step 4: Bring to a boil. Then cover and reduce heat to medium low and simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.
Step 5: Add in the dry pasta and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta is cooked to your desired consistency.
Step 6: Remove from the heat and stir in the cheeses.
How To Store Leftovers
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the frig for up to 3-4 days.
Freezer: Once cooled completely, place the goulash in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months.
To reheat: Warm on the stovetop with a splash of broth or water or microwave in 30 second intervals.
Is this the same as Hungarian goulash?
No, this version is an American-style goulash made with ground beef and pasta. Hungarian goulash is more of a stew with meat seasoned with paprika and no noodles.
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Easy Goulash Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef I use 90% lean
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- Salt and pepper
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes with juice
- 14.5 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 ¼ cup elbow macaroni noodles uncooked
- 1 cup cheddar cheese freshly shredded
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a dutch oven or large pot, add the diced onion and ground beef and cook over medium-high heat breaking into pieces until cooked all the way through.1 pound ground beef, 1 yellow onion
- Add in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning,, soy sauce, paprika, salt and pepper and stir to combine well.3 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoons paprika, Salt and pepper
- Add in the diced tomatoes and the broth and stir together.1 cup beef broth, 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces tomato sauce
- Bring to a boil. Then cover and reduce the heat to simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Add in the dry pasta and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta is cooked to your desired consistency.1 ¼ cup elbow macaroni noodles
- Remove from the heat and then stir in the cheese.2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, 1 cup cheddar cheese
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
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