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American goulash is an easy, old-fashioned, and comforting meal that is insanely delicious and perfect for the cold winter months. Everything cooks in one pot, even the pasta!
Everyone needs a hearty recipe that they can go to on those chilly days where you want to be warmed up from the inside out! Try this chicken stew, this fantastic beef stroganoff, or this yummy BEST EVER Beef Bourguignon!
What is American Goulash?
Goulash is a hearty dish of stewed beef and tomatoes that was first developed as a Hungarian dish. It typically doesn’t even have pasta, but this American version does and cooks right in the sauce. This makes it an easy and complete meal. It tastes similar to lasagna but without ricotta cheese. I love it because it’s a 1:1 ratio of meaty red sauce with noodles. The more beefy sauce, the better!
This time of year is all about the hearty meals that keep us warm and leave us feeling full and satisfied. American goulash will do precisely that! Plus, it’s easy to make. Get ready for this… You make it all in ONE POT. It only takes about 10 minutes to prepare, and then the rest of the time, it’s just cooking on the stove. This recipe makes a lot, so it’s perfect for feeding a big family, sharing with others, or eating the leftovers for lunch the rest of the week. Enjoy!
Ingredients in One-Pot Goulash
This delicious one-pot meal is perfect when you need an easy recipe for those busy, on-the-go nights. The ingredients are simple, and you probably have most of them already at home and ready to go! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.
- Ground Beef: I like to use lean ground beef in this recipe.
- Onion: Dice up your onion into small, similar sized pieces.
- Garlic Cloves: If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves on hand then you can use minced garlic. 1/2 teaspoon equals about 1 clove of garlic.
- Water: The water is used as a base to cook the pasta noodles in.
- Beef Base (or bouillon): The beef boullion just ups the beef flavor and adds to the overall taste.
- Tomato Sauce: The tomato sauce will mix everything together.
- Diced Tomatoes: Canned diced tomatoes are easy and work perfect for this sauce.
- Bay Leaves: These add in that classic, deep flavoring to the overall dish.
- Soy Sauce: My favorite one to use is this soy sauce.
- Seasoned Salt: This adds to and enhances the flavors in the goulash.
- Italian Seasoning: You can use store bought or you can make this homemade Italian Seasoning and always have some on hand!
- Paprika: This sweet spices adds in a lot of flavor.
- Black Pepper: The pepper will only add in some seasoning, there isn’t enough for any heat.
- Elbow Macaroni Noodles: The best part about these is that you pour them in uncooked! No worrying about getting these ready beforehand.
- Cheddar Cheese: Freshly shredded cheddar from a block will melt in the sauce better.
- Fresh Parsley: This is used as a garnish for the finished recipe!
Let’s Make Some Dinner!
This American goulash is packed to the brim with beef, noodles, and cheese. The flavors are incredible, and my mouth waters just thinking about it!
- Brown the Meat: Brown ground beef in a large stock pot. Remove from pan and drain. Leave about 1-2 tablespoons grease in pan. Add the diced onion and then cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat until tender. Add the garlic and cook another minute.
- Simmer: Return ground beef to pot along with the water, beef base, cans of tomatoes and sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves, seasoned salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, and black pepper. Then, stir together, bring to a boil, cover, reduce to low and let simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add (uncooked) Noodles: Stir in the noodles then cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes or until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent noodles from sticking to the bottom.
- Mix in Cheese: Just before serving, stir in the cheese. Serve garnished with fresh parsley.
What’s the Difference Between Hungarian Goulash and American Goulash?
Hungarian goulash is a thick stew filled with meat and vegetables. It sometimes has dumplings or potatoes in it rather than pasta. The classic sample ingredient in traditional Hungarian goulash is paprika. American goulash doesn’t have any extra vegetables (aside from the tomato-based sauce), and it has macaroni noodles and cheese. American goulash also goes by the name “American chop suey.”
Can You Freeze American Goulash?
YES! This is a fantastic meal to make ahead of time! Here is how you can freeze it after it’s been cooked and reheat it later!
- Freeze: Once your goulash has cooled then you can place it in a casserole dish and cover it with a double layer of foil. Or, you can put it in a ziplock bag and lay it flat in your freezer. Make sure to label your container with the date! American goulash can stay frozen for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: When you are ready to eat your goulash, take it out of your freezer and thaw it in your fridge overnight. Heat it up on the stove on medium heat until it is warm throughout! Enjoy!
How to Store Leftovers
This goulash recipe makes a lot so it’s likely that you will have leftovers! This makes a fantastic lunch or dinner the next day!
- In the Fridge: Place your cooled goulash in an airtight container and put it in your fridge. Leftover goulash can last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheat: You can heat this back up on the stove on medium heat until it’s warmed through. Or, you can warm it up in the microwave. Cook it for 1-2 minutes on high and stir. Continue this until its warmed up!
What to Serve with Goulash
Goulash is a hearty dish that lends itself to just about every side out there! It’s easy to add things to this meal that your entire family will love! I like to add in some rolls or breadsticks, and a couple of veggies and maybe even a salad. I’ve gathered a few recipes that I have served with this before!
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American Goulash
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups water
- 1 tablespoon beef base or bouillon
- 2 (15 ounce cans) tomato sauce
- 2 (15 ounce cans) ddiced tomatoes (one petite diced)
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Seasoned salt
- 2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups elbow macaroni noodles uncooked
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- Fresh Italian parsley chopped
Instructions
- Return ground beef to pot along with the water, beef base, cans of tomatoes and sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves, seasoned salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, and black pepper. Stir together, bring to a boil, cover, reduce to low, and let simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stir in the noodles, cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes or until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent noodles from sticking to the bottom.
- Just before serving, stir in the cheese. Serve garnished with fresh parsley.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Perfect. Followed the recipe! Tasted better than my Mom’s! 😀 Thank you for sharing.
Looking for cream cheese recip that has pretzel crust. Can’t find it again
Hi Nona, I think you are looking for either my strawberry pretzel salad, or raspberry pretzel salad. If not, give me some more details so I can help you find what you’re looking for!
I made this last night and was delicious! Made it for my picky eater who is from New England and refers to this as American Chop Suey. These were the variations I made. 1lb ground beef, 1 can beef broth plus slightly more than 1/2 can water. 29 oz, can crushed tomatoes, 2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce, 1 6 oz. can tomato paste. Substituted soy sauce with Worcestershire sauce. No cheese. I read several complaints about too much Italian seasoning but I thought it was just fine. My picky eater approved. Thanks for an EZ and tasty recipe!!
Used to make this when I was young only I just called it Goulash. And never put soy sauce in mine. Will try it out and see if it changes how it tastes.😀
Made this tonight for the first time. IT WAS DELICIOUS! Only made half the recipe since there is only 2 of us. I did change up a couple things because I had to ingredients on hand…
1. I used mild Italian sausage instead of hamburger.
2. I used beef broth instead of water AND also used the “Beef Better Then Bouillon.
Recipe will definitely be a rerun many times!
This was very good I would make it again. The only thing I would do is cook the noodles a little more
I made this a great recipe family enjoyed
We’re limping along until payday so I made a couple substitutions, but regardless this was AWESOME! I made 1/2 batch and used ground turkey, condensed tomato soup, chicken bouillon, and a little extra water to make up for the smaller soup cans (I had 22 oz of soup, so I used an extra 8 oz of water lol). Also used tubetti pasta instead of macaroni noodles. My 5 year old daughter was thrilled, she declared it “More delicious than I expected” and “We should make this more often”
Getting creative and getting compliments from your 5 year old, sounds to me like you’re winning in life! I’m so glad you guys liked it!
Best goulash I have tried! Recipe is perfect as is! It’s a hit with the family.
Have made many variations of American goulash over the years, but this one is by far one of thee best! I loved all of the different spices and herbs, the soy sauce ect, it all came together to create a super flavour filled meal. The family absolutely gave it 2 thumbs up! Served with warm dinner rolls and a veggie filled salad.
Very like this recipe. Mostly I used all the ingredients but made of few changes to it. I omitted the tomatoes sause, water and use 3 cups beef broth. I use 1/2 onions diced and add green bell pepper (diced). My family did prefer use less spice or omit some of the spices. But overall, they like it.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Would like to make it again.
This recipe is delicious. I did omit the tomatoes sause and used 3 cups of beef broth instead. I did use less onion and add one bell pepper. All the rest of the ingredients, I use as it is written. For my family they did prefer to I use less spice that it is written on this recipe. But overall, my family and myself like this recipe and would use it again.
Delish! I had to make some modifications for what I had and didn’t have on hand, and it was so tasty. I used one pound ground beef and one pound of ground mild Italian sausage, worchestershire instead of soy, and a can of beef consommé with two cups of water. Will make this again for sure!
How can you rate a recipe as published when you’ve changed the recipe?If you’re going to publish your own recipe,then just make a comment don’t rate your own recipe.
I have made the recipe a month ago and made no changes to original.That’s why the 5 stars
I’ve tried many goulash recipes, but this one was the tastiest! It’s a keeper for sure! My family who is very fussy, loved it. I made some garlic bread for dipping into the juices & cleaning up the bowl. I highly recommend this goulash.
Made tonight, very salty. I wouldn’t use soy sauce Next time around.