Goulash

By Maria Lichty

Published on January 17, 2024

View RecipePin Recipe4.7126

When you are craving comfort food, what do you turn to? A few favorites at our house include chicken pot pie, chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, and baked ziti.

This American Goulash is also a popular comfort food dish. It is made with ground beef, veggies, garlic, a rich tomato sauce, beef broth, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It is similar to spaghetti, but goulash combines the meat sauce and pasta in one pot. We also like to top goulash with shredded cheddar cheese for extra deliciousness!

American goulash is different than Hungarian goulash, which is a rich beef stew made with chunks of meat and heavily seasoned with paprika.

American Goulash is the perfect weeknight meal. It only takes about 30 minutes to make and is made with basic ingredients. It is a family favorite, kids especially love this hearty and wholesome dish.

Cozy, comforting, and always a dinner winner!

Ingredients

• Olive oil– for sautéing the veggies!
• Onion– chopped.
• Red bell pepper– seeds removed and chopped.
• Ground beef– we prefer lean ground beef. You can use ground turkey or chicken.
• Garlic cloves– minced.
• Beef broth– use your favorite brand.
• Tomato sauce– to give the dish a rich tomato flavor.
• Diced tomatoes– don’t drain, you want to include all of the tomato juices.
• Worcestershire sauce– it has a strong unami flavor that gives the dish a nice flavor boost.
• Spices– bay leaf, Italian seasoning, and paprika
• Elbow macaroni– look for elbow macaroni in the pasta aisle.
• Cheddar cheese– we like to top the goulash with shredded cheddar cheese right before serving.
• Italian parsley– for garnish.

How to Make American Goulash

• n a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

• Add the ground beef, breaking up the meat into small pieces using a wooden spoon. Cook until meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

• Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.

• Add the macaroni and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium low and cook for about 12 minutes, or until the macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally so the pasta doesn’t stick.

• When the pasta is done, remove the bay leaf and ladle the goulash into bowls.
• Top with shredded cheese and parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.

Variations

• You can use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef. Italian sausage will also work or a mix of sausage and ground beef.
• Add additional vegetables. Mushrooms, carrots, and celery are good options.
• Use chicken broth or vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
• You can use gluten-free pasta, chickpea pasta, or your favorite pasta. If you can’t find elbows, use another small pasta.
• Instead of sweet paprika, use smoked paprika to give the dish a slight smoky flavor.
• Add crushed red pepper flakes if you want to the goulash to have a little kick.
• Use your favorite shredded cheese or omit the cheese if you need the recipe to be dairy-free.
• Add a dollop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt to your bowl for extra creaminess.

Serving Suggestions

• Salad– kale salad, green salad, butter lettuce salad, Caesar salad, or arugula salad
• Roasted Broccoli
• Green Beans– roasted Green Beans or green beans almondine
• Roasted Carrots
• Garlic Bread
• Easy Cornbread
• Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

How to Store

• Let the goulash cool. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a pot on the stove top.
• You can freeze goulash. Let it cool completely. Transfer to a freezer container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Transfer to a baking dish and cover with desired amount of cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave or on the stove top.

More Pasta Recipes

• Spaghetti
• Baked Mac and Cheese
• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Spaghetti Carbonara
• Stovetop Mac and Cheese
• Baked Spaghetti
• Taco Pasta

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Pasta

American Goulash

This easy goulash recipe is made with ground beef, onions, bell pepper, a rich tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni. This one pot meal is a family favorite and perfect for busy weeknights!

4.71 from 17 votes

PrintSave RecipeReview

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, seeds removed and chopped
• 1 lb. ground beef, can use ground turkey or chicken
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 15 oz can beef broth
• 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 15 oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, for serving, optional
• Chopped Italian parsley, for garnish, optional

Instructions

 

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the ground beef, breaking up the meat into small pieces using a wooden spoon. Cook until meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
• Add the macaroni and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for about 12 minutes, or until the macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally so the pasta doesn’t stick.
• When the pasta is done, remove the bay leaf and ladle the goulash into bowls. Top with shredded cheese, if desired. Garnish with parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 370kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 970mg, Potassium: 588mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 1032IU, Vitamin C: 29mg, Calcium: 158mg, Iron: 3mg

Keywords ground beef, pasta

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