Best American Goulash Recipe
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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.
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:
- Cream Peas Recipe with Milk
- Pickle and Ham Roll Ups
- What is in Amaretto Sour?
- Easy Ham Dinner
- Overnight Breakfast Recipe
- Gooey Caramel Rolls Recipe
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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Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

One Pot American Goulash
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes do not drain
- 1 ½ Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 14.5 oz can low sodium beef broth
- 10.75 oz can tomato soup
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 2 c. elbow macaroni
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ c. shredded cheddar cheese.
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven cook ground beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until no pink remains. Drain off excess fat.
- Add in salt, pepper, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, tomato soup, brown sugar and bay leaves. Simmer for about 20 minutes, with cover on.
- Add elbow macaroni and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes or until pasta is tender.
- Remove and discard bay leaves. Top with shredded cheese and replace lid, let sit 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
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!
Shaun says
Can I add spinach at the end?
JJ says
Loved this! I was looking for a comfort recipe that I already had all the ingredients. Turned out delicious and I will definitely make it again. Added a few extra spices that we enjoy and only cooked the elbow pasta about 9 minutes, just til tender.
Kirk says
Delicious and easy! The entire family loved it!
Julie Evink says
So glad everyone enjoyed it Kirk! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Diane says
Loved that it is made in one pot. Very tasty
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Cindi says
My husband loved this, freezer friendly. Awesome recipe, don’t change a thing.
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Cindi! Thanks for coming back and commenting and rating the recipe!
Carmen says
I made this for my father in law and he almost ate the entire thing!
I didn’t grow up eating this dish, but this is DELICIOUS. A new favorite at our house, for sure!
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Carmen! Thanks for commenting and leaving a rating!
Tamara says
We love this recipe. Ingredients that I usually have on hand and I can’t get over the flavour the Worcestershire adds. This is now a family favourite.
Julie Evink says
So glad you are enjoying it Tamara!
Christine says
I’ve love this recipe!! Only thing I did differently was use rotel tomatoes to make it spicy and left out the cheese. My fiance said it was the best goulash he has eaten!! Thanks for the recipe!!
Julie Evink says
Awesome!!! Great way to switch it up!
Shirley Wimchester says
Delicious!!! Third time making this. We love it. Thank you.
Michelle Sperr says
Yay Shirley! Glad you loved the recipe!
Beverley Husband says
OMG….what a gorgeous delicious meal, it’s now going to be a regular in our home 😁
Michelle Sperr says
Yay Beverley! Glad this was a hit!
Deborah says
Oh my goodness!! So delicious! Such a tasty filling meal! Cornbread muffins are perfect with this goulash. My picky kids even devoured it! Thank you so much
Julie says
Excellent! So glad it was a hit!
Holly says
Do you use condensed soup?
Julie says
Yes, condensed tomato soup.
Melodi says
Made this for dinner tonight,used rotel in place of tomatoes was wonderful!
Will definitely be making again!
Julie says
Sounds great! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Judy E Allen says
I”m making this for the first time tonight and planned on using rotel – glad to hear you like it!
Julie says
Rotel will give it a nice little kick!