American Goulash is a one-pot meal that is ready in just 45 minutes! This comfort food favorite is made with ground beef and pasta in a flavorful tomato-based stew. There’s a reason why it’s been a comfort food favorite for over 100 years!
One pot dinners are so quick and easy, and we can’t get over how fast it is to clean up! Goulash is one of those American meals we grew up with that doesn’t ever go out of style. When we think of home cooking, we think goulash. It is the ultimate comfort food, yet it doesn’t take forever to make! Your kids will be begging for this one over and over again, so it’s time to stock up on ground beef and macaroni noodles!
Hungarian Goulash is a stew that dates back to the 9th century. This recipe is for an American Goulash which dates back to the early 1900s and is generally made using ground beef and pasta in a chili powder and paprika tomato stew.
Pasta Options for Old Fashioned Goulash:
We love this dish with elbow macaroni, but you can also use egg noodles.
Meat Options:
A traditional American-style goulash calls for ground beef. For a lighter version, you can swap the ground beef out for ground chicken or turkey. If you prefer pork, use ground Italian sausage. If you are vegetarian, you can use meatless crumbles.
Additions:
We love how easy it is to customize goulash! If you like additional veggies in your meal, you can add almost anything to this dish! Common favorites are sliced carrots, green beans, peas, and corn.
Make Ahead Instructions:
Goulash is best made and eaten fresh, but you can always prepare it early. Store your goulash in the fridge and reheat when ready on the stove in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in a large saucepan on the stove over medium heat until warmed through.
If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious ground beef recipes:
Watch the video below where we will walk you through every step of the recipe with a video demonstration.
My whole family loved this including my son who doesn’t like “pasta”! Easy and delicious recipe!
Fabulous recipe! I go ahead and let mine simmer for 15min and use the 3 cups of pasta. Last time I used mini shells, and it was delicious as well. I’m a cheddar gal, so I use sharp, but I can see mozzarella being fabulous too. Enjoy!
My wife is starting to complain, she keeps telling me all these recipes I cook from FB is making me fat. I keep telling her, once a chef, always a chef. been a chef now for 39 years.
Easy to make and so yummy! Thank you!❤
Excellent. Served over pasta.
Great Recipe! It’s a cheap and hearty meal that is kid and budget friendly. Definitely a keeper!
OMG this is so delicious! Had to use ground pork cuz hubby took it out of the freezer instead of ground beef. I’m not crazy about ground pork so I added 2 hot Italian sausage to give it more flavor. I don’t like elbow macaroni so I used bow ties. It was so good I over ate! Simple, quick and adaptable, our new favorite recipe. Thank you so much
This is delicious and so easy. It’s became a staple in our meal rotation. My boys gobble it up and it makes so much.
I just made the American Goulash and it was delicious!!!
Love Mama’s American goulash! She always added a diced green pepper also. YUM!!