Cheesy Beef Goulash

When you need an easy dinner recipe that will please the whole family, try whipping up some old fashioned goulash! Everyone loves this hodgepodge of macaroni noodles, ground beef, tomatoes, cheese, and seasonings! This easy beef goulash recipe is the perfect go-to for any night of the week.

What is Goulash?

Goulash is a soup or stew of meat, usually seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating from the medieval Hungary, goulash is a popular meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe.

Have you tried it before? We love goulash in our home and although I’m sure we have a very American version of the recipe, we wanted to make sure we shared our Cheesy Beef Goulash recipe with you today – because it’s delicious! 🙂 It is filled with noodles, hamburger, tomatoes and cheese!!

Although we really don’t consider our “American Goulash” (or “Old Fashioned Goulash”) a stew, we love this cheesy dish that can be easily modified based on the ingredients you love most. Although this recipe has a number of different seasonings, it is simple enough to please all ages. The whole family loves it, and I love because it’s simple and tasty.

How to Make Goulash:

I’m all about simple these days and this recipe is just that! It doesn’t take long to throw this easy cheesy goulash together, but plan ahead because it does have to simmer for about 30 minutes! The hardest part of this recipe is honestly waiting patiently for it to finish simmering! See for yourself how simple this recipe is:

1. Saute ground beef in skillet over medium-high heat until cooked, and drain.
2. Add the garlic and saute for about 5 minutes. Add water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, soy sauce, and seasoned salt. Stir well. Cover and allow to cook for 15-20 minutes.
3. Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to skillet, stir well, then return the lid and simmer for about 30 minutes. Once 30 minutes is up and the noodles are all cooked, turn off the heat, and remove the bay leaves. Add 1 cup of cheddar cheese right before serving.

Adding the cheese at the end if what makes this goulash even more irresistible!

Such a cheesy, delicious dinner idea that everyone will enjoy!! This recipe does make a whole pot full, so if you end up with extra, know that the leftovers are just as delicious! We hope you enjoy this beef goulash as much as we do. 🙂

For more easy ground beef recipes, try:

• Spaghetti Chili
• Taco Casserole
• Sloppy Joes
• Skillet Lasagna
• Loaded Nachos
• Beef Enchiladas

Easy Goulash Recipe Video:

4.64 from 74 votes

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Goulash Recipe

When you need an easy dinner recipe that will please the whole family, try whipping up some old fashioned goulash! Everyone loves this hodgepodge of macaroni noodles, ground beef, tomatoes, cheese, and seasonings! This easy goulash recipe is the perfect go-to for any night of the week.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 8

Calories 542 kcal

Author Kristyn Merkley

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 3 tsp minced garlic
• 3 c water
• 2 cans tomato sauce 15 oz cans
• 2 cans diced tomatoes 15 oz cans
• 3 bay leaves
• 3 TB soy sauce
• 1 TB seasoned salt
• 2 TB Italian seasoning
• 2 c elbow macaroni uncooked
• 1 c shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Saute ground beef in skillet over medium-high heat until cooked. Drain. Add garlic and saute for about 5 minutes. Add water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, soy sauce, and seasoned salt. Stir well. Cover and allow to cook for 15-20 minutes.

2. Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to skillet, stir well, return the lid and simmer for about 30 minutes. Turn off heat, remove the bay leaves, and add 1 cup of cheddar cheese right before serving.
   

Recipe Notes

TRIED AND TRUE FINDINGS:

• DIFFICULTY: Simple
• HOW MANY DOES IT FEED: 6-7ish, more if you're feeding little mouths.
• ANY CHANGES MADE: We did not add any onions to this recipe. We typically use minced garlic and we omitted Paula Deans seasoning. We also added one cup of cheese.
• ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT TIME: Next time, I would love to try egg noodles, for more of a stroganoff feel.

Nutrition Facts

Goulash Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 542 Calories from Fat 252

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 28g 43%

Saturated Fat 11g 55%

Cholesterol 95mg 32%

Sodium 2457mg 102%

Potassium 1183mg 34%

Total Carbohydrates 41g 14%

Dietary Fiber 5g 20%

Sugars 10g

Protein 31g 62%

Vitamin A 20.4%

Vitamin C 26.4%

Calcium 21%

Iron 33.9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.