This is the best goulash recipe and is the most comforting of all comfort foods. It is warm, delicious, filling, hearty and easy to prepare ALL IN A SINGLE POT! Dump all of the ingredients in at once and let it cook! This is the perfect family meal for a busy night.
Original recipe: December 2016 | Updated: August 2021
Why This American Goulash Recipe Works
This is the best goulash recipe (aka American Chop Suey) you will ever taste. It is a ONE POT meal and one of my all-time favorite old fashioned recipes that I literally cannot control myself around. When it is in the fridge, I eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner until it is totally gone.
It is one of the easiest, most delicious and hearty comfort food recipes I make with consistency. It is jam-packed with comfort, flavor and texture.
I make this dish both for intimate family dinners and also for large gatherings. No matter the crowd, it is ALWAYS a hit. I mean, how can you go wrong with ground beef, pasta and tomatoes?! If you have an Instant Pot, give my super easy Instant Pot Goulash a try!
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Goulash Ingredients
Ground beef – Try replacing the ground beef (or a portion of it) with ground pork for an added kick of flavor. For a healthier version of this comforting meal, replace the beef with ground turkey or chicken.
Diced tomatoes – Do not drain the tomatoes! Also, consider using a variety with added herbs and flavors.
Tomato sauce – If you have time for it, you will be happy with the boost of flavor that homemade tomato sauce offers.
Water – Replace all or a portion of the water in the recipe with LOW SODIUM beef broth for an even more flavorful meal.
Seasoned salt – This might seem like an odd ingredient, but don’t skip it! It adds the perfect amount of seasoning. When I’ve skipped this ingredient in the past, I’ve noticed a difference in overall flavor of the dish. Make this Lawry’s copycat recipe from Throwdown Kitchen!
Elbow macaroni noodles- A different variety of pasta can be used in this recipe, such as penne or rotini.
What Is Goulash?
Goulash? Gulach? Goolash? Ghoulash? What the heck does this funny word even mean? First of all, American and Hungarian Goulash are two entirely different dinner recipes.
Based on this recipe from Taste of Home here are the ingredients you’ll find in the Hungarian version that you will not find in the American version: carrots, green peppers, stew meat (in place of ground beef), beef broth, paprika, caraway seeds and sour cream.
Keep reading for details about the American version of the delish one-pot dinner detailed in this post.
As for goulash origin, it stems from the Hungarian word “Gulyás” which is defined as “cowboy.” Hungarian cowboys butchered the weakest cattle and made easy meals out of their meat. Hence, the word!
Check out our web stories to see Pip and Ebby “recipes in action!”
How To Make Goulash
Step 1
Cook 2 pounds of ground beef in a saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat on the stove top until no longer pink. Drain the grease from the pan. Add 1 yellow onion and 3 cloves of minced garlic and cook until onions are translucent. The onions and garlic will be nice and fragrant, as well (mmm, I LOVE the smell of sauteed garlic).
Step 2
Add the remaining ingredients to the ground beef onion mixture and stir. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
Step 3
Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. Remove from heat and serve to hungry tummies!
Recipe Notes
- Sprinkle sharp shredded cheddar cheese or Parmesan over the top just before serving for an extra cheesy version of this dish.
- Garnish with fresh parsley, oregano or basil and top with a sprinkling of black pepper.
- Add 2 bay leaves and/or a splash of red wine to the pot before cooking for extra flavor.
- Add a chopped green bell pepper to the onion mixture for added texture and flavor. Red, yellow, orange or green peppers would all taste great.
- I recently had a friend tell me that she added 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to this recipe and that it was super yummy.
Make This Dish in an Instant Pot
Make this comforting meal in your Instant Pot! Instant Pot goulash could not be easier or more delicious. It cooks perfectly every time and is done in only 30 minutes. Perfect easy dinner any night of the week!
Make Goulash in a Slow Cooker
This slow cooker goulash recipe is a delicious, filling and hearty meal that is super easy to prepare in your crockpot. Requiring mere minutes of prep time and a few simple ingredients, crockpot goulash is the perfect family meal for a busy night!
Make Your Own Tomato Sauce
To add an extra touch of flavor to this meal, consider making your own tomato sauce! Homemade Tomato Sauce is SO easy to make and the flavor is out of this world.
FAQ About Goulash
Goulash and spaghetti contain similar ingredients. When making spaghetti, the pasta and sauce are cooked separately and combined just before serving. Goulash is typically made in a single pot.
The great thing about slow cooker goulash is that it’s a one-pot meal. You’ve got pasta, meat and veggies all wrapped into one easy meal. If you’re looking for something extra to serve alongside this comfort food favorite, consider any of the following:
A delicious chopped salad complements any meal perfectly! You can’t go wrong with garlic bread! Any side of vegetables would go great with this meal. Consider steamed broccoli or cauliflower or sauteed zucchini or mushrooms. Asparagus and Brussels sprouts would be great, too! Add a giant heaping spoonful of goulash over a baked potato. Roasted or grilled tomatoes would taste amazing with this dish and would complement the tomatoes in the recipe even more!
Cooked and cooled beef goulash, when stored in an airtight container, will last in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Goulash freezes fairly well, with the pasta losing some of its firmness after it has been thawed. When preparing a big batch of goulash to freeze, consider cooking the pasta separately and adding it to the recipe just before serving. Place in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months for best results. When ready to thaw, allow it to sit in the fridge over night.
Comfort Food Recipes
What People Are Saying About This Easy Goulash Recipe
My family loved this meal. I did cook the noodles separate and added at the end after simmering everything else. I used roasted tomato and garlic diced tomatoes. Will absolutely make again. Thank you for the recipe. – Kelly
This rekinds me of my childhood. I usually use my garden stewed tomatoes which have onion, bell pepper and celery. If not, I make sure to add celery when the onion is added. Also, beef better than bouillon works nicely inplace of the broth. Bay leaf is another good flavor inhancer. I like the one pot method. – Lisa
Hands down one of my favorite recipes. I make it at least once a month but I cut everything in half because it does make a huge pot of food. I also substitute ground sausage for the beef. But again….amazing recipe. – Lily
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If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!
Best Goulash Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 30 oz diced tomatoes undrained
- 30 oz tomato sauce
- 3 cups water
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp seasoned salt
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, cook ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain grease. Add onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, or until soft and fragrant.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt and elbow macaroni to the pan. Mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium-low heat, cover pan and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until pasta is cooked through.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately!
Notes
- The seasoned salt in the recipe might seem odd, but don’t skip it! It adds the perfect amount of seasoning. When I’ve skipped this ingredient in the past, I’ve noticed a difference in overall flavor of the dish.
- Replace all or a portion of the water in the recipe with LOW SODIUM beef broth for an even more flavorful meal.
- Try replacing the ground meat (or a portion of it) with ground pork for an added kick of flavor.
- For a healthier version of this comforting meal, replace the beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese or Parmesan over the top just before serving for an extra cheesy version of this dish.
- Add 2 bay leaves and/or a splash of red wine to the pot before cooking for extra flavor.
- Add a chopped green bell pepper to the onion mixture for added texture and flavor. Red, yellow, orange or green peppers would all taste great.
- I recently had a friend tell me that she added 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to this recipe and that it was super yummy.
Crissy Cattuzzo
I’m making this tonight and i’m excited because I’ve NEVER had Goulash. Let me just say this to the negative people that don’t know how to keep to mouth shut…ARE YOU A PROFESSIONAL CHEF? Probably not so if you don’t agree with a recipe do us all a favor and ZIP IT!!!! Thank you Megan for sharing your recipe. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!
Megan Porta
Hey Crissy, you are so nice. Thanks for backing me up and I hope you enjoyed the recipe!
Megan
Julie
can you make it ahead of time and put it in a slow cooker?
Megan Porta
Hi Julie! If you plan to put it into a slow cooker, undercook the noodles and keep a very close eye on it as it cooks. Let me know how it turns out if you give it a whirl!
Megan
Joe Rupena
This is the second time I have made this goulash. The first time, I made it exactly as written and it was great. The second time, I added green peppers (1 cup), fresh shredded cheddar cheese (one cup), smoked paprika (1 tsp.), and crushed red pepper (1/2 tsp.) and it put this dish over the top. I should also mention that I halved this recipe as there are only two of us. Thank you for taking the time and effort to submit this awesome dish!
Megan Porta
Hi Joe! I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe! I absolutely love your additions, especially paprika/red pepper. Thanks so much for the comment!
Megan
Rose
Made this for dinner tonight… Then immediately text the link to my besties. Easy, delicious 1 pot meal! I love how you throw the I cooked noodles right in. I will for sure make this again (can’t wait for leftovers!) Smaller families can totally cut this recipe in half as it makes a TON.
Rose
*uncooked noodles
Tara
This was delicious! Just made for my daughter and I for dinner. I used turkey instead of beef. I added a cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese also!
Megan Porta
Hi Tara! I’m so glad this turned out so well for you guys! Thanks so much for the comment!
Megan
Amanda Oliver
Delicious! Add some shredded parmesan on top when done and a fantastic weeknight meal!
Megan Porta
Hi Amanda! YUM…Parmesan on top would be delicious!
Megan
Katie
Any guessing on what a serving size would be? 1cup? 2?
Megan Porta
Hi Katie! Approximately 1 cup would be a serving size for this recipe. Enjoy!
Megan
Kiley
Does this freeze well?!
Curt
Freezes well, doesn’t thaw well. Macaroni gets mushy.
Kelly
Great recipe! I added celery and frozen corn to sneak the veggies in. Thanks for sharing.
Terry
I cut the recipe in half living on my own the whole would be to much. Having a garden I used fresh tomatoes substituted the elbow for medium shell pasta and added sliced baby Bella mushrooms. Yummm
Ron
My food journey is eat right your Type. So being type o blood, I eliminate wheat from my diet. My question was can I get that level of comfort food with gluten free pasta? The answer is yes. Made this last night using organic brown rice pasta and subbing whole foods brand organic sauce as the hubs doesn’t like tomatoes. I also added red pepper flakes and a tablespoon of raw sugar, and grass fed hormone free beef. It was amazing and will be at the top of my list. Good recipe.
Megan Porta
Best comment of the day! I always love hearing when substitutions work better than anticipated. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Megan
Wild Bill again
Forgive me for not including well wishes for your son. God bless him. I too will include him in my prayers. Also, wasn’t that a beautiful comment by Ronnie about Him being the best and cheapest dr? Thanks Ronnie. Hope you don’t mind if I wear that advice out.
Megan Porta
Aww, thank you so much for this. It means a lot! Comments like yours and Ronnie’s are cherished!
Megan
Wild Bill
Thanks for simple tasty recipe. I’m 68 and just learning how to cook. It came out great 2nd try. Blew first one by not knowing what a clove of garlic was, but got it now. Had dinner and freeze dried the rest for rv trip. Thanks again. I owe you
Megan Porta
So glad to hear it, Wild Bill! You’re an RVer, too, huh? Safe travels!
Megan
Ronnie
I really appreciate the recipes on the web . They make cooking so much easier because I have so many recipes at my disposal. I divested of many of my cookbooks, therefore, now I just hit Google and "voila" there are numerous ideas to choose from. I am making this dish as we speak. I will pray for your son to be in perfect health without the need for expensive procedures and medicine. I believe in going to the best Doctor! He never even charges me for His services! Love and peace to you and your family. Thanks again for posting your recipes.
Maggie
This was delicious. I just made sure my diced tomatoes and tomatoe sauce was organic to cut back on sugar and processed junk. I also used whole wheat pasta for the same purpose. It was a bit healthier but still had that same comfort food taste. Served with a side of stemmed brocolli. My 3 year old gobbled it all up.
Megan Porta
Hi Maggie! I’m so glad your alterations worked great! That’s always so great to hear. Thanks for the comment! And…always a HUGE win when toddlers gobble up dinner!
Megan
Evelyn Jester
By the way, my nickname since childhood has been Ebby.
Evelyn Jester
When I get goulash at a local diner this is the type of dish served. You called it "American goulash" and to me this dish fits the bill. I plan to make it this weekend. I will add a little sugar (always to tomato sauces) and shredded cheddar as a couple of the comments mentioned. Where I live it often has carrots in it. Thanks for the recipe.
Heather Crowley
Hi Sis!
Making this tomorrow for Erin and Adrienne. ‘Hope you are home safely. God bless’ and love ya. H
Megan Porta
Heather! I hope the Goulash turns out great for you and your precious girls. 🙂 Love you guys!
Meg
Maddie
Have made this a few times now and it is so hearty and makes soooo much leftovers, my partner and I eat it for days afterwards.
Also super tasty when the liquid gets absorbed by the pasta, so delicious. We make it with chicken mince as it’s the preferred meat in the house.
Thanks for this recipe ❤️
Megan Porta
Maddie, this comment made my day! Love that you make it with chicken mince. YUM!
Megan
CH68
This is simmering on my stove as I type, for some reason, I did not have tomato sauce in my pantry (embarrassing to admit since I’m Italian) – so, I used 1/2 a jar of Rinadlo pasta sauce….I’m thinking I should have reduced the Italian Seasoning due to this, but I guess we’ll see. I also added frozen corn just because it’s easier to get the 4 1/2 year old to eat veggies if they are all mixed in. If this is a hit with him, it will for sure be added to the regular rotation…Thank you for the quick, easy recipe (Oh I used ground turkey – only because turkey is preferred by the "boss" in the house)
Megan Porta
I hope it turned out great, CH68! Great idea to add the corn. I may try this next time!
Megan