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Old-fashioned goulash is an easy cheesy family favorite! It’s the perfect go-to dinner recipe for any night of the week.

Filled with meat, cheese, seasonings, and macaroni, this recipe is sure to become as loved as Beef Stroganoff and Pot Roast.

Beef Goulash recipe cooking in a skillet.
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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.

Today’s recipe is an American beef goulash that my family has made my entire life. Not only is it hearty, but it’s a great dinner idea for kids since they all love it!

Why we love it:

  • A simple dinner. It’s takes some time to make, but it’s very simple and is a one of our go-to beef dinner ideas.
  • Easy to change up. Add the cheese, leave out the cheese, add extra veggies or even change the noodles. This recipe is very versatile.
  • Can be in the slow cooker too! Just follow the directions below to make in the crockpot.

Hungarian vs American Goulash

Hungarian goulash is more like a soup or stew and uses chunks of beef, various vegetables and seasoned with onion and paprika.

The Americanized version is typically tomato based and full of macaroni, ground beef, uses seasonings like basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary, and often includes cheese. American goulash is also called American chop suey or slumgullion. It’s the epitome of American comfort foods.

How to make Hungarian goulash. It’s a bit different and includes more vegetables like carrots and peppers. For that recipe, CLICK HERE.

Macaroni noodles for American goulash recipe.

Goulash Ingredients

  • Ground Beef – You can 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. 
  • Minced Garlic – Adds flavor but can be coupled with Worcestershire sauce for even more flavor.
  • WaterBeef broth can be used instead of water for extra flavor. Increase the amount of broth to make this dish more โ€œsoupyโ€ like the Hungarian goulash.
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Bay Leaves
  • Soy Sauce
  • Seasoned Salt
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Elbow Macaroni – Macaroni noodles are a classic, but any similarly sized pasta will work such as shell pasta, penne, ditalini, or fusilli.
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese – I love cheddar in our recipe, but shredded mozzarella or even Parmesan will work. Cheese can be omitted as well.

How to Make Goulash

  1. MEAT. Begin by sautรฉing beef/hamburger in a skillet over medium-high heat until cooked, and then drain. Add the garlic and sautรฉ for about 5 minutes.
  2. SAUCE. Add water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, soy sauce, and seasoned salt.
  3. SIMMER. Stir this well; cover and allow to simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to skillet, stir well, then return the lid and simmer for about 30 minutes.
  4. CHEESE. 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, which will make it even more irresistible.

Make in a Crock Pot

Making this American goulash in the crockpot is super easy. Just follow these steps to make it:

  • Sautรฉ the ground beef in a skillet until cooked.
  • Drain excess fat and add garlic. Sautรฉ for another 5 minutes.
  • Put the sautรฉed meat in the crock pot along with the remaining ingredients.
  • Cook on HIGH heat for 3-4 hours or on LOW heat for 7-8 hours.

Variations + What to Serve With Goulash

Vegetables. Another way to make this more like the Hungarian version is to add extra veggies such as peas, red bell peppers, spinach, onion, and carrots. Add more tender vegetables toward the end so they don’t get mushy.

There are so many great sides that go with this easy goulash recipe, but some of our favorites include:

Close up of American goulash in a skillet.

storing info

  • Make it ahead of time. Make this hamburger goulash ahead of time. Simply follow the recipe directions, cover, and store in the fridge until youโ€™re ready to use.
  • STORE. Goulash can reheat well, but it needs to be stored properly. Be sure to place it in an airtight container and put it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat by using the microwave.
  • FREEZE. Ground beef goulash can be made ahead of time and frozen for up to 3 months. Place leftover goulash in a freezer-safe dish and cover tightly with foil.
  • Reheat. If you plan to store this American goulash recipe for more than a day the best place to keep it is in the freezer. When youโ€™re ready to eat this delicious dish take it out of the fridge or freezer. Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF, cover the dish with foil, and heat until it is the desired temperature.
Beef Goulash Recipe spooned out of pan.

For more ground beef recipes:

4.97 from 599 votes

Easy Goulash Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
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: 30 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 1 hour

Ingredients 

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 3 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions 

  • Sautรฉ ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until cooked. Drain. Add garlic and sautรฉ 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.
  • Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to the skillet, stir well, return the lid, and simmer for about 30 minutes. Turn off the heat, remove the bay leaves, and add 1 cup of cheddar 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.

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.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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4.97 from 599 votes (296 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




672 Comments

  1. Brittney neal says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was amazing! I did not use bay leafs but i did add some fresh chopped yellow onions when i added the garlic and let it cook for 5 mins before adding the rest! My picky kids loved it too!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay..glad your picky eaters liked it! Thank you for sharing that!

  2. Camara says:

    5 stars
    Delicious kids enjoyed it I used ground turkey and garlic and onion powder my favorite seasoning and pepper onions and orange bell pepper

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Sounds perfect! Thank you for sharing what you did! Glad everyone liked it!

  3. Sara says:

    GOULASH FROM EUROPE IS NOT THIS!! I AM FROM EUROPE AND THIS FOOD I DO NOT KNOW. OUR RECIPE IS VERY DIFFICULT ๐Ÿ™‚ FIND ON GOOGLE GULรล  AND TRY

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I hope you do try this. My family loves this! Let me know what you think!

  4. TIMi jo says:

    5 stars
    So great! Normally all of the recipes I find online need a little bit of a tweaking, but this recipe was fantastic just as the recipe calls! I have been on the search for a goulash recipe that has great flavor… the search is now over! New favorite & regular for my family of 6! Thank you!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay! I love hearing that! So happy you liked it! Thank you so much for letting me know!

  5. Paul Smith says:

    5 stars
    i liked this recipe very much and tried it on the christmas dinner i hosted in Chicago i was a little worried as i am net to cooking but it turned out fine and everyone liked it. Thank you!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I am happy everyone liked it. Thank you for making it!

  6. Dee Dee says:

    5 stars
    This is the best! The whole family, even the 8 month old loved it!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay!! I am glad your whole family liked it! I appreciate you trying it!

  7. Linda says:

    4 stars
    Skillet was not large enough. Recipe did not say whether to drain the diced tomatoes so with the 3 cups of water, had an overflow. Had to cook MACARONI separate. Will see how it turns out taSteWise.

  8. Nikki says:

    5 stars
    Thank you for the great recipe. I will add this one to my rotating collection. My family loved it and it’s simple enough for a week night. I’ve made this twice now and I added chopped zucchini when i added the pasta. good way to get the kids to eat veggies!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Great idea! Thank you for sharing that! Glad you like it ๐Ÿ˜‰

  9. CArrie says:

    5 stars
    Big hit with the family! It makes A LOT so you will have plenty of leftovers. It’s a keeper!!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yay! Glad it was a hit! Yes, it’s a good one for leftovers or taking to a neighbor!

  10. Sybil says:

    5 stars
    This was a hit. I used gluten free pasta, added pinto beans and let everyone add their favorite cheese right before serving/

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Great idea!! I am glad it was a hit! Thank you for letting me know ๐Ÿ˜‰