This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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
- MEAT. Begin by sautéing beef/hamburger in a skillet over medium-high heat until cooked, and then drain. Add the garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes.
- SAUCE. Add water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, soy sauce, and seasoned salt.
- 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.
- 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:
- Sauté the ground beef in a skillet until cooked.
- Drain excess fat and add garlic. Sauté for another 5 minutes.
- Put the sautéed 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:
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 you’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 you’re ready to eat this delicious dish take it out of the fridge or freezer. Preheat the oven to 350°F, cover the dish with foil, and heat until it is the desired temperature.
For more ground beef recipes:
Easy Goulash Recipe
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
- Sauté ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until cooked. Drain. Add garlic and sauté 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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this for me and the fam. Delicious easy recipe. I made tweaks as well. And it made it our home comfort feel. I added onion green bell peppers and family seasonings with some butter. Was absolutely delicious……
Thanks for sharing what you did. Sounds tasty! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the goulash recipe.
My favorite, most simple goulash recipe that the whole family loves
Yay!! I’m so happy to hear that!
Made the goulash to night. Was OK but needed more spice. It was bland.
Thanks for your feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
Very tastie. I only had to cook my macaroni in for 12 min and it was done perfectly. 30 mins would have been way to long.
Thanks for the feedback! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
I found this recipe several years ago and my family loves it. The first time I thought the recipe said 1 tb of seasoned salt instead of 1 tsp so it was a bit salty but once I corrected my mistake it was perfect. I don’t change it up too much but sometimes I dice up mushroom in the food processor and use that in lieu of 1 lb of hamburger. I also add extra cheese to make up for the healthier substitution ☺️
Oh yes! I’m sure that extra salt did make a difference haha. So glad you enjoy the recipe. The mushrooms sound like a yummy twist on it too…. and you can never go wrong with extra cheese, right? 😉 Thanks for sharing.
I loved this dish. Didn’t change anything. Really good. Looking forward to making it again today. I’m going to use the crockpot but just add the cooked noodles when I’m ready to serve.
Thanks!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
I love your goulash recipe it’s a stomach feeling recipe on a cold night by the fire is feeling thank you
Aw, thank you!! So so happy to hear you enjoy the recipe!
Goulash?
When I was growing up the very same recipe was called American Chop Suey. In my husband’s household it was called Pizza Junk! I wonder if there’s other names….?
Oh really? I’m sure it probably does! That’s fun to hear all the different names this dish has been called.
This has become my go to goulash recipe. The only tweak I suggest is in adding a chopped up bell pepper to the mix. It adds a good bit of color and character to the dish.
Thank you!
Ooh I’m sure a bell pepper would be a great addition to the recipe! So glad that you enjoy it.
Delicious. I added beef broth instead of water and also added onions and some Maggie Seasoning with my soy sauce. Gave it more flavor and used jumbo macaroni since the only size I had. Even toddler loved
Yay! Your substitutions sound awesome and I’m so glad to hear your family enjoyed it too.