Best American Goulash Recipe

4.96 from 82 votes

Posted: 03/09/20 Updated: 09/06/22

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Easy, traditional American Goulash is a delicious, easy one-pot dinner recipe that the entire family will love. A mixture of elbow macaroni, ground beef, tomatoes, cheese and seasonings make this a family favorite recipe you will come back to again and again. It will be one of the most requested recipes.

Pair it with a tossed salad or roasted vegetables to round out a quick and easy comfort food dinner.

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The Best American Goulash Recipe

Goulash is the dinner to make on those nights when only a comforting, hearty meal will do! It’s pretty much the ultimate comfort food – macaroni and ground beef simmered in a savory sauce and topped with melted cheddar cheese? Um, yes, sign me up!

Oh, and it’s a one-pot dinner! All of it – even the pasta – cooks in one pan for an easy dinner that will give you all the cozy feels. This Goulash is right up there with my one-pot taco pasta and chicken spaghetti dinners for family-requested dinners. My family loves it and I think yours will, too!

What is American Goulash?

Hungarian goulash is very different from American goulash which is what I’m sharing. The European version is more of a stew made with meat and vegetables and seasoned with paprika. It’s often served over potatoes or noodles.

American goulash is made with ground beef and macaroni and a tomato-based sauce. The recipe I’m sharing is very similar to what my mom used to make for us growing up in Minnesota – it’s just good hearty comfort food!

Goulash American Ingredients

You guys know me – I love taking advantage of my pantry to make dinner. Even though this ingredient list looks long, most of the items are probably tucked away in your pantry right now!

Ground beef – I typically use a 80/20 mixture, but you can go leaner, but it will not have as much flavor.
Diced onion – Using dried onion saves me time, but you can substitute with fresh if you’d like.
Minced garlic – I always have a jar in my refrigeratore of minced garlic to save time.
Salt and pepper
Canned diced petite tomatoes (don’t drain it!) – You can subsitute regular diced tomatoes, but my family prefers the petite diced!
Worcestershire sauce
Low sodium beef broth – You do not have to use low-sodium. If you use regular you may want to skip the salt and season after cooking.
Tomato soup
Brown sugar
Bay leaves
Elbow macaroni – Any noodles will work!
Shredded cheddar cheese – Shred this yourself to maximize the “gooey” melted cheese factor.

How to make this One Pot American Goulash Recipe

I love, love, love that this whole dish comes together in one pot. You don’t have to boil the pasta in one pot and make the rest of it in a separate pan. It’s a little thing but it makes a big difference – once less pot to deal with and fewer dishes to wash.

Step 1: Brown the Meat

Cook the beef, onions and garlic together in a large pot or dutch oven. Be sure to break up the beef as it cooks and when it’s no longer pink go ahead and drain off the excess fat from the pan.

Step 2: Simmer the Sauce

Add the salt, pepper, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, broth, soup, brown sugar and bay leaves. Give it all a good stir, cover the pot with a lid and simmer the sauce for 20 minutes or so. All of those savory flavors will mix and mingle together creating a delicious sauce for your Goulash!

Step 3: Add the Pasta

Once the sauce has simmered add the macaroni and give it a stir. Cover the pan again and cook the pasta for 15 to 20 minutes or until its tender. As the pasta cooks it will release starch which will help thicken the sauce. It takes a little longer this way – if you boiled the pasta separately it would take less time – but it wouldn’t absorb all those delicious flavors from the sauce! Also, fewer pots to wash!

If you notice you need more liquid as it cooks, just add a bit of water to the pan.

Step 4: Add the Cheese and Serve!

When the pasta is tender go ahead and fish out those bay leaves and discard them. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and cover with the lid. Once the cheese has melted – it only takes five minutes – this one-pot goulash is ready to serve.

Recipe For American Goulash Tips

Busy night? Make this ahead of time. When you are ready to enjoy remove from refrigerator and place in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F that is covered with foil until warm and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Make sure to cool completely before transferring to container. It can be kept in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To reheat leftovers place in microwave for 1 minute, stir and warm in 30 second increments until hot.
You can freeze Goulash just make sure to competently cool then transfer to an air tight container. It will stay good in the freezer for up to three months. We ready to use remove from freezer and thaw in refrigerator overnight. You can warm it in the oven, on the stove top in a skillet or in a microwave.
The best pot to cook this in is a large, heavy duty soup pot. This helps with cooking evenly so you don’t have hot spots and cold spots. I love using an enamel coated cast iron Dutch Oven.
Any cheese will work for this recipe. We prefer mild cheddar, but you could use sharp cheddar or any type of cheese!

What do you serve with this American Goulash Recipe?

It’s really a one-pot dinner so we often have it with nothing else! But, if you want a side dish you might like to add some roasted cauliflower or just a simple salad. If you’re really craving the carbs add some homemade breadsticks or dinner rolls!

One pot, pantry ingredients, and easy prep – you’re going to want this Goulash recipe in your dinner rotation! I hope you love it as much as we do.

Want More Easy Dinner Recipes?

Once you’ve tried this easy Goulash you have to give some of these recipes a try, too!

Skillet Beef Pot Pie is a classic comfort food dinner recipe made easy! It’s filled with ground beef and vegetables in an easy homemade gravy and topped with biscuits.
Green Beans, Chicken & Potatoes is a complete meal you can make in one pan – I think you’ll love it!
If you have a pasta craving but you’re short on time, you need to make my Skillet Lasagna. It’s everything you love about lasagna but so much easier to make!

More Great Recipes:

Have you tried this Goulash recipe and love it? Rate it, please!!!? Seriously though a five-star rating below will make my day! If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!!

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Meet Julie Evink

I'm here to help you win in the kitchen again! Life is Busy, Life is Crazy, but that doesn't mean you can't make your family dinner! Julie's goal is to provide you with easy, family, friendly recipes that use pantry staples. Dinnertime will be stress free again!