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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.
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 โsoupyโ 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 sautรฉing beef/hamburger in a skillet over medium-high heat until cooked, and then drain. Add the garlic and sautรฉ 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:
- 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:
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 youโre 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 youโre 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.
For more ground beef recipes:
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
- Sautรฉ ground beef in 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 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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My entire family loves this easy recipe. Itโs in our regular dinner lineup. It may not be fancy, but everyone always requests it. A real winner!
I love goulash, this is perfect recipe since there is a crockpot option. I make it in crockpot. Its easy and freezes week. Great recipe for meal planning.
Kristyn,
I have this recipe printed and in a loose-leaf notebook book that has hundreds of loose recipes floating around in it. We all have one of those, right?
I used to make this for my three kids when they were growing up. Theyโre all grown up now and on their own. 26, 21 and 21. A diesel mechanic, a college student and a United States Marine. This page has creases in it, warn edges and splatters of tomato sauce. Running across it reminded me of standing in the kitchen making it while the kids were doing homework. So many memories. Thank you for helping me get them grown.
It taste really good, but in my opinion it has nothing to do with goulash, it is Spaghetti Bolognese, just cooked in one pot and with other noodles. Lol
Thanks for your opinion. Glad to hear you enjoyed the dish!
Iโm a farmerโs wife and made this tonight for my husband and some of the other farmerโs in the field for harvest. They all said it was delicious and hearty meal! We will be keeping this one in the rotation!
That makes me so happy to hear! I’m glad everyone enjoyed the goulash!
I love this recipe it is so good and easy to make and with this recipe, it is a crowd pleaser for sure.
i absolutely love making traditional hungarian goulash for my family, i just know they will really enjoy this version! can’t wait to try it out! I love your recipes!
This is the ultimate easy dinner and definitely a crowd pleaser. Love the ease of making this with pantry staples. Leftovers , if there are any, heat up easily for lunch the next day.
This is such an easy go to meal, and you can change it to suit your family!!
This is one of my favorite meals but I use low sodium ingredients
That totally works! So glad you enjoy the recipe!