American Goulash is an easy, one-pot, classic comfort food made with ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni noodles. Coming together in 30 minutes, this quick and simple recipe is an easy dinner your whole family will love.
There’s just something so warm and comforting about a big bowl of grandma’s old fashioned goulash with some melty cheese on top. Honestly, I made this recipe often for my kids, and I think they could eat it every day and never get tired of it! I love the way this Goulash brings me back to mu childhood.
This Goulash Recipe is just that. It’s super affordable, quick to make and tastes like a warm hug on a cool evening.
What is Goulash?
Goulash is a soup or stew of meat, usually seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating from medieval Hungary, goulash is a popular meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It typically doesn’t even have pasta in it but this American version does and cooks right in the sauce making it an easy complete meal. This is a popular n the mid-western and southern part of the United States. Often referred to simply as “Goulash”, this recipe is one of those feel-good, home-style dishes that remind you of home.
Goulash is filled with ground beef, onion and bell peppers along with macaroni noodles in a tomato-based sauce. I like to stir in some sharp cheddar cheese at the end to give it a creamy texture.
Ingredients to make the perfect American Goulash
- Onion – I like to use either a white or yellow onion
- Red Bell Pepper – you can use other colors of peppers if desired
- Ground Beef
- Garlic
- Tomato Sauce
- Diced Tomatoes – I love using the petite diced tomatoes here
- Beef Broth
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Seasoned Salt
- Italian Seasoning
- Bay Leaves
- Dry Macaroni – other small pastas would work too
- Mozzarella Cheese or Cheddar Cheese
How to make the perfect American Goulash
- Start by browning the ground beef along with the onion and bell pepper. Drain any fat and then toss in garlic until fragrant.
- Pour in tomato sauce and diced tomatoes along with beef broth and Worcestershire sauce for some added depth of flavor.
- Add in the seasonings as well as dried macaroni noodles and let simmer until the noodles are cooked through.
- Finally, stir in the cheddar cheese and dig in!
Can this Goulash Recipe be made ahead of time?
- Cook everything according to the instructions listed below until you get to the step where you add the macaroni and beef broth (or water). Don’t add those.
- Instead, cook macaroni separately, according to package instructions until al dente (you don’t want them cooked all the way).
- Store the sauce and the noodles in separate containers OR wait for the sauce to cool, stir in the noodles, and store together.
- Add the cheese at the time of serving.
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 30 minutes |
| Passive Time | 35 minutes |
| Servings |
people
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- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 garlic clove diced
- 2 cans tomato sauce
- 3 cups beef broth
- 3 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tsp Sea Salt
- 2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 cups dried macaroni
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese
Ingredients
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- Add olive oil to a large pot over medium-high heat. Add in the onion, bell pepper, and ground beef then cook until beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat and return the pot to stovetop. Add in garlic and stir until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
- Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, Italian seasoning, bay leaves and dried macaroni noodles. Stir and bring mixture to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a light boil and stir occasionally until the pasta is tender about 20 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves and stir in the cheddar cheese just before serving. Enjoy!
