This easy old fashioned goulash recipe is pure comfort in a pan. I’ve made this humble one-pot dinner more times than I can count because it never fails and always hits the spot. Packed with pasta, ground beef, tomatoes and simple spices, it’s hearty, cozy and incredibly easy to throw together with very little hands-on effort. The leftovers are just as delicious the next day, which makes this one of those dependable comfort food recipes I come back to again and again.
Original recipe: December 2016 | Updated: August 2021
Why This American Goulash Recipe Works
This is the kind of nostalgic comfort food recipe people come back to again and again. I’ve made this easy goulash more times than I can count and it has never once failed me.
Here is why it stands out:
- Everything cooks together in one pot for easy cleanup
- Packed with hearty pasta, beef, tomatoes and rich flavor
- Requires very little hands-on time
- Perfect for both busy weeknights and feeding a crowd
- The leftovers are unbelievably good the next day
This is one of those meals I genuinely cannot control myself around. When there’s a batch in the fridge, I end up eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner until it’s completely gone.
If you have an Instant Pot, be sure to try my Instant Pot Goulash, too!
Goulash Ingredients
Ground beef – Replace 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 lean ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken.
Onion – Yellow onions or white onions will be your best options for bringing out the flavors in the dish.
Garlic – Use fresh minced. Replace with 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder in a pinch.
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. This rich tomato-based sauce is hard to beat.
Water – Replace all or a portion of the water in the recipe with low sodium beef broth for an even more flavorful meal.
Worcestershire sauce – This sauce is one of my little secret ingredients for this recipe. A little goes a long way!
Seasoned salt and Italian seasoning – Don’t skip either of these seasonings! They add the perfect flavor to the dish.
Elbow macaroni noodles – A different variety of small 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 Americanized 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 the 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!
Are Goulash and Spaghetti the Same
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.
How To Make This Easy American Goulash Recipe
Step 1
Cook 2 pounds of ground beef in large skillet 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 (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 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 or red pepper flakes.
- Add 2 bay leaves and/or a splash of red wine to the pot before cooking for extra flavor.
- Include a small can of tomato paste into the meat sauce for a robust tomato flavor.
- Add chopped green bell peppers to the onion mixture for added texture and flavor. Red, yellow, orange or green peppers would all taste great.
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top just before serving.
- Leftover goulash is delicious! This hearty ground beef recipe makes a large batch, but you can easily reheat throughout the week.
Pure Comfort Food Recipes
- The Best Meatloaf Recipe
- Spaghetti Sauce Made Out of Tomato Sauce
- Easy 3-Ingredient Chili
- Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Crab Soup
What To Serve With Goulash
The great thing about this one-pot meal is that everything is wrapped into a single pot. If you’re looking for something extra to serve alongside this American comfort food, consider any of the following:
- A delicious chopped salad complements the dish perfectly.
- You can’t go wrong with garlic bread.
- Any side of vegetables would go great with it. Steamed broccoli, green beans 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.
How Long Does Goulash Last in the Fridge
Cooked and cooled beef goulash, when stored in an airtight container, will last in the fridge for up to 5 days.
How To Freeze Goulash
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.
Make Hamburger Goulash 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.onths for best results. When ready to thaw, allow it to sit in the fridge over night.
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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Easy Old Fashioned 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!
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Notes
- Sprinkle sharp 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 or red pepper flakes.
- Add 2 bay leaves and/or a splash of red wine to the pot before cooking for extra flavor.
- Include a small can of tomato paste into the meat sauce for a robust tomato flavor.
- Add chopped green bell peppers to the onion mixture for added texture and flavor. Red, yellow, orange or green peppers would all taste great.
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top just before serving.
- Leftover goulash is delicious! This hearty ground beef recipe makes a large batch, but you can easily reheat throughout the week.
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Can I use penne rigate noodles? I have them on hand and not macaroni noodles.
Yes! I love changing up the noodles that I use in my recipes.
If I don’t want the tomatoes added do I need a substitute or will into be okay without the tomatoes?
Hi, Are you referring to the diced canned tomatoes? They do add juiciness and flavor so if you don’t use them, you’d need more sauce. It’s just a nice texture and way to keep all the liquid you need in the meal without solely relying on tomato sauce. It’s your meal though! Try it out and let me know how it goes.
Can this be done in the oven?
I have never made it in the oven but I’m confident it could be!
Nvm! Thank you ! Can’t wait to try!
Do you cook noodles first?
No m’am. Throw them in – I’ve added water to help cook them! Enjoy one less step in the cooking. Thanks for asking!
So don’t cook the noodles? Just put them in with all the ingredients to cook up?
That’s correct! Water is added to properly cook them. Nice to have one less step!
I made this yesterday for my husband who grew up with goulash. It was always a comfort food for him.
After tasting this version he said, while still eating out of the pot, "you better save this recipe, its the best I’ve ever had,
I love it too
So wonderful to hear! That makes my day. Thank you for taking the time to let me know!
Very, very good will be making this a lot…..thanks!
Makes me glad to hear. Thank you for coming to share!
I have made this probably a dozen times over the last year or so, and it is always delicious! It’s definitely one of my favorites!
I never tire of hearing that – thanks for checking in and sharing!
Great easy recipe. Homemade, So much better than a boxed dinner (hamburger helper) . Perfect fall & winter comfy food. Add a green salad & parmesan toast dinner is ready!
Agreed! It’s the perfect time of year to break out these comfort food recipes. Always yes to a green salad too!
The Italian season really is a must in this! Definitely a game changer… I add corn, carrotsand kidney beans because the flavor is so good I can hide veggies my son never eats .. the more veggies the better right?! He loves it! Thanks for sharing
I’m glad you found a meal to get your kiddos some veggies in! Thanks for all the changeups to share – people enjoy seeing the many ways you can enjoy this recipe.
Made this tonight. Halved the recipe and it still makes tons. Added corn and 1.5 Tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder. Delicious, thank you!
Yes, this makes a decent batch! That pasta seems to multiply. 🙂
I’ve never heard of adding cocoa powder but I’m intrigued! Thanks for sharing!
We’re a paella catering, however we like the dishes of united kingdom! Without hesitation this one Certainly one of those favourites is! Really like and would really like to learn to generate a inch that is suitable! I am going to decide to check out this recipe!
https://salmonrecipes.org/
Thank you for checking us out! Paella is delicious – this is much simpler recipe to make and enjoy. 🙂
I made it with gluten free elbows. I cooked them separately, omitted 2.5 cups of water, and added them at the end of the 25 min simmer time. Adding the gluten free elbows would add too much starch to the dish, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to follow that part of the instructions, but thankfully it turned out great. Hope this helps anyone else needing this substitution. Great recipe!
Good idea! Thank you for sharing!
This recipe is awesome, I add a bit of chili powder to mine and use V-8 instead of water extra tomatoey if that’s a word.
Here is what I believe is a GREAT tip. I do my elbows separate and keep them separate until I am ready to eat.
That way the Macaroni doesn’t get mushy by soaking in the sauce/juice. 5 Stars
These are great tips to pass on so that others can try it if they want to. Thank you!
I am cooking it now – smells delish! I did add green bell pepper as that is how I remember it and will be topping it off with shredded cheddar 🙂
Sounds like it’ll be amazing! Thanks for trying it out!
As I was growing up, my Mom fixed what she called Slumgullion. It was Goulash, but I never heard that name until years later (aside from Hungarian Goulash). She made all of her dishes from memory, nothing written down, so I had nothing to go by when I wanted to make it myself. I did the store bought similar box meals, instead, but it just wasn’t the same. Finally, I decided to see if I could find a good recipe online and found this one.
My second batch of it is finishing up now, and I can’t wait to dive into it. It’s so delicious. I am like my Mom in that I prepare the recipe as written the first time, then make adjustments to suit my tastes. For tonight’s batch, I added Green and Red Bell Peppers, as well as Mushrooms. I can smell it now, so I’m going to go enjoy.
I am so glad that it helped fulfill a craving and reminded you of your mom’s! I agree, you can do wonderful things with this recipe and your additions sound wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
I have a "secret" ingredient, which takes it to ANOTHER LEVEL..its knorr brand tomate and chicken bouillon…its in a powder..add at least a heaping tsp. Or tbsp. ..your preference…just Add to the mixture after you put water and seasons in
Thanks for sharing that tip with us!
Thanks for sharing that tip with us!
This goulash is good eats!! I grew up eating this stuff. I still make it now. Was a good supper when I worked and had three kids to feed. It cooked up fast and was able to get dinner on the table in a reasonable amount of time. I had no problem with the tomatoes. They cook up eventually and I added velveeta cheese to melt in and it made it even more yummy.
You are so right. Raising kids, you need quantity in a hurry and to get healthy foods in them too and then it’s fun to find different ingredients to change it up. Thanks for sharing!