Amercian Goulash is a delicious and easy one pot dinner recipe that combines ground beef with elbow macaroni, peppers, onions, tomatoes and tons of flavor!
This easy recipe is a family favorite in our house. The easiest way to describe it (according to my family) might be chili with pasta instead of beans, spaghetti with extra meat and not much sauce, or a homemade Hamburger Helper. Whatever you want to call it, this goulash is pure comfort food!
Granny's Classic Amercian Goulash is one of those recipes that just tastes like home. It has a little bit of everything a satisfying meal should have - meat, carbs, veggies. This easy goulash recipe is the kind of meal you can make for your family for dinner and then then stuff into the kids thermos for their lunch the next day.
What is Goulash?
You either grew up eating goulash or you didn't. Everyone pretty much falls into either of those categories.
Goulash is a stew with meat. The defining spice in traditional Hungarian Goulash, where the original recipe originated, is paprika.
This Goulash recipe has been completely Americanized. We're talking ground beef, macaroni, a flavorful tomato sauce, and the convenience of the entire meal being made in one pot.
This meal is not only delicious and satisfying, it's an easy dinner recipe that will save any busy extra curricular and homework filled weeknight.
How easy is it to make Goulash?
I'm not sure about traditional Hungarian Goulash, but this American Goulash is super simple to make. Since it is a one-pot recipe, the clean up ain't too bad either!
This recipe starts by browning ground beef in a heavy bottom dutch oven. You can use a stockpot as well. You'll add the onion and bell pepper to the ground beef and continue cooking until the meat is browned and crumbly and the vegetables are tender.
Next you'll add all of the remaining ingredients except the macaroni. You don't want to add the pasta this early. If you did, it would get super mushy. Let that wonderful stew simmer for a good 20 minutes to develop the flavor.
Finally, add the uncooked macaroni, cover, and simmer until the macaroni is tender. Give it a good stir and serve it up!
The best way to reheat it:
When I reheat dinners like this, I'll either reheat them on the stove or in the microwave.
If you choose to reheat goulash on the stove, use a saucepan, cover, and heat on low. If your goulash looks like it could benefit from a bit of moisture, you can add a small amount of broth or even some pasta sauce.
If you reheat this goulash recipe in the microwave, I always recommend covering with a plate or paper towel (it will splatter) and heat on 50% power. The last thing you want to do is hit it full blast. Ground beef that's been microwaved too long is just gross.
Love ground beef dinner recipes?
You'll have to try these family friend ground beef recipes:
- Easy Sloppy Joes
- Sloppy Joe Casserole
- Cheeseburger Casserole
- Classic Meatloaf
- Classic Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Granny's Classic Amercian Goulash
CLICK TO PLAY RECIPE VIDEO
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion (diced)
- 1 green bell pepper (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 ½ cups water
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Hot Sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt (more if needed)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (more if needed)
Instructions
- Heat large Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the beef, and brown for 10 minutes, breaking up with the back of your wooden spoon as you stir. Add the onion and bell pepper and continue to cook, while stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add all the remaining ingredients, except the macaroni, and cover with a lid, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stir in the macaroni, cover with the lid, and simmer for another 15-20 minutes until pasta is tender. Remove from heat
- Let mixture stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with a green salad and garnish with fresh parsley.
Donna
My mom made goulash all the time and I've been looking for a recipe like hers. Every recipe I have come across has cheddar cheese in it and that's not what I grew up with. This is perfect just like I remember. Thank you
George
Teaching my 14yo grandson to cook...
He handled this one perfectly! I was his sous chef. Thanks for this delicious recipe!
Jennifer Allen
Hi what’s a serving ? I know it serves 6 thank you ! Excited to try this
Krissy
Gosh. I wish I could remember the volume. I just knew it fed my family of four with enough leftovers for two more servings.
Donna z
I added mushrooms and green chili's. I used beef broth instead of water. Delicious! So simple and no leftovers. Thank you.
Kathy
Just liki I remember from 50 + years ago when I fixed for my family.
Raven Hubbard
This is such a great recipe! I made a few modifications based on what was in my pantry:
1. 32 oz home canned tomatoes instead of the diced tomatoes
2. Can of tomato soup in place of the tomato sauce
3. 1 1/2 lbs of hamburger
4. One beef bouillon cube in with the water
I’ll make this again!
Billie
This is my go to goulash recipe. Mom made something very similar when I was a kid. I use half the Italian seasoning because that isn't my favorite. I am also single with kids grown so instead of adding the water and pasta. I leave the water out and just cook pasta on the side because I love fresh pasta and not leftover. I separate into portions and freeze also. Ty for all your beautiful recipes.
Maggee Mae
Easy to put together. We don’t care for garlic, added cumin. subbed a can of tomato soup instead of sauce because that is what I had. Along with the diced tomatoes, I added 1/2 a can of Rotel tomatoes, we like heat. Instead of water added 1 C chicken stock for more flavor. Husband enjoyed. Thank you
Tibby S
This is a Great recipe! Making again tonight. Just the two of us, so I won't have to cook tomorrow night! Love leftovers!
DD
Great recipe. Family loves it.
Nancy F.
Great recipe!! Doesn't take long to add ingredients and simple full instructions were a plus. Taste is great and it's a definite make-again recipe!! Would maybe served best with corn bread too!!
Becki
I made this goulash today, and it is so delicious! It seemed like it had too much hot sauce in it, but it’s just like a Buffalo wing, it just made me want another bite!! I really love it !
Sylvia
This is really tasty, I did a low-carb version with riced cauliflower and used chopped sweet peppers instead of green but the flavors are amazing.
Becky Croft Long
I'm keto also I was thinking just cut the cauliflower into smaller pieces!
Edward Trouskie
Krissy,
I haven't had American Goulash since I was a kid, more than 70 years ago. This version was very good. Made a couple of minor changes. For the water addition, I used half beef stock. For the hot sauce I used Sriracha, other than that, followed you recipe. Really delicious. I will definitely make this again. Will substitute ground turkey next time, I think.
Margie
Made this tonight. It was delicious. Everyone loved it!
Deb
This was delicious. Much better than the previous goulash recipe I had been using. I doubled the recipe, hoping to have leftovers for a couple days. Leftovers were gone already on the second day. Thank you!
Valerie
Would I have any trouble doubling this recipe you think?0
Krissy
Should work just fine!
Tracy
The only change was hat I added Celery. Very tasty!!!
Wendy Mercil
The best Goulash I have ever made did 1/2 ground sausage and beef and also used a can of rotel w/green chilis :). I made this last week for my dad and making again this for my daughter and her family it was so good.