Easy Goulash Recipe

This old-fashioned easy goulash recipe is a one-pot family favorite! It’s the perfect go-to dinner recipe for any night of the week.

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What is Goulash?

This easy goulash recipe is a soup or stew of meat, usually seasoned with paprika and other spices. The recipe originated in Hungary and we’ve added our American twist.

Ours is tomato-based and full of macaroni, ground beef, and seasonings like basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. It’s a one-pot family favorite that we’ve made my entire life! It’s not only hearty, but it’s comfort food at it’s finest and so delicious!

Serve this American goulash recipe with some Garlic Bread or Garlic Knots and some Roasted Vegetables for a great Sunday dinner idea.

Ingredients

PREP TIME: 30 minutes

COOK TIME: 30 minutes

• 2 pounds ground beef – Use lean ground beef or one with higher fat content. Drain any excess grease that is produced. Replace half the ground beef with 1 pound of Italian sausage or completely substitute the beef for ground turkey or chicken. 
• 3 teaspoons minced garlic – see How to Mince Garlic
• 3 cups water – Beef broth can be used instead of water for extra flavor. Increase the amount of broth to make this dish more “soupy” like the Hungarian goulash.
• 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 3 bay leaves
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt – Add red pepper flakes for spice.
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 2 cups elbow macaroni noodles – Macaroni noodles are a classic, but any similarly sized pasta will work such as shell pasta, penne, ditalini, or fusilli.
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese – or shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, or omit
• optional veggies – peas, red bell peppers, spinach, onion, green beans, or carrots (add more tender vegetables toward the end)

How to Make Goulash

1. MEAT. Sauté 2 pounds of ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until cooked, then drain. Add 3 teaspoons garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes.
2. SAUCE. Add 3 cups water, 2 cans tomato sauce, 2 cans diced tomatoes, 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning, 3 bay leaves, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon seasoned salt.
   • Stir this well; cover and simmer for about 15-20 minutes.
3. PASTA. Add 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni to the skillet, stir well, then return the lid and simmer for about 15-20 minutes.
4. CHEESE. Once the 15-20 minutes are 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, making this easy goulash recipe even more irresistible.

Complete The Meal

Sides

Cheesy Garlic Bread

20 mins

Fried Zucchini

25 mins

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

40 mins

Arugula Salad

10 mins

More Easy Pasta Dinners

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50 mins

Hamburger Stroganoff

30 mins

Homemade Hamburger Helper

30 mins

White Sauce Penne Pasta

15 mins

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4.97 from 605 votes

Easy Goulash Recipe

By: Kristyn Merkley

This old-fashioned easy goulash recipe is a one-pot family favorite! It's the perfect go-to dinner recipe for any night of the week.

Servings: 8

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 45 minutes mins

Total: 55 minutes mins

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 pounds ground beef, 80 percent lean/20 percent fat
• ▢ 3 teaspoons minced garlic
• ▢ 3 cups water, or beef broth
• ▢ 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
• ▢ 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• ▢ 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• ▢ 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• ▢ 3 bay leaves
• ▢ 2 cups elbow macaroni, or penne or shell pasta
• ▢ 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional topping

Instructions 

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground beef until cooked, 8-10 minutes, then drain off exxcess fat.
• Add garlic and sauté for about 2-3 minutes. Add water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt and bay leaves. Stir, cover and cook for 15-20 minutes.
• Add macaroni to the skillet, stir well and cover. SImmer for about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, remove the bay leaves, and cheese right before serving.

Video

Notes

Freezer meal. Brown the ground beef, drain, and cool. Add the ground beef and other ingredients to a freezer Ziploc and freeze for 3-4 months. (Save the noodles and cheese to add later). Thaw and heat on the stove adding the noodles during the last 30 minutes. Top with cheese.

Store leftovers in an airtight container(s) and put it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Slow Cooker Directions. Saute ground beef in a skillet until cooked.  Drain excess fat, add garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Transfer beef to the slow cooker along with all remaining ingredients except the cheese. Cook on high for about 3 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.  Add cheese 20-30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 542kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 95mg, Sodium: 2457mg, Potassium: 1183mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 1020IU, Vitamin C: 21.8mg, Calcium: 210mg, Iron: 6.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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