This super easy Goulash Recipe is a comfort food classic! It’s filled with hearty ground beef and tender pasta in a rich tomato-based sauce and comes together in about 30 minutes!
I’m always looking for new and exciting ways to turn ground beef into dinner, but sometimes I just love the good old classics that bring me right back to my childhood. This Goulash Recipe is just that. It’s super affordable, quick to make and tastes like a warm hug on a cool evening.
Classic Goulash Recipe
Are you familiar with Goulash? If not, let me introduce you to this old fashioned recipe! This recipe is an American Goulash that’s great for busy weeknights, but I love to take this recipe to potlucks and parties because it makes a ton and is super affordable. It’s also great for picky eaters, I haven’t met one kid who doesn’t love this dish!
Goulash is filled with ground beef, onion and bell peppers along with macaroni noodles in a tomato-based sauce. I like to stir in some sharp cheddar cheese at the end to give it a creamy texture. My family loves it!
Goulash Ingredients:
- Onion – I like to use either a white or yellow onion
- Green Bell Pepper – you can use other colors of peppers if desired
- Ground Beef
- Garlic
- Tomato Sauce
- Diced Tomatoes – I love using the petite diced tomatoes here
- Beef Broth
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Seasoned Salt
- Italian Seasoning
- Bay Leaves
- Dry Macaroni Noodles – other small pastas would work too
- Cheddar Cheese
How To Make Goulash
- Start by browning the ground beef along with the onion and bell pepper. Drain any fat and then toss in garlic until fragrant.
- Pour in tomato sauce and diced tomatoes along with beef broth and Worcestershire sauce for some added depth of flavor.
- Add in the seasonings as well as dried macaroni noodles and let simmer until the noodles are cooked through.
- Finally stir in the cheddar cheese and dig in!
Tips and Variations:
- Make sure you use a big pot, as this recipe does make a lot!
- You can swap out the macaroni noodles for any other small pasta you have on hand.
- To make this an even leaner meal, you can use ground turkey in place of ground beef.
- Try adding in extra veggies like: corn, peas, diced carrots, green beans or even stirring in baby spinach at the end!
- Stir in a cup of sour cream at the end to give this recipe an even creamier base!
- The goulash is not quite soup consistency, but if you would like to add extra beef broth to make it more soupy you can definitely do that!
More Comfort Food Dinners
- Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Cabbage Soup Recipe
- Instant Pot Beef Stew
- Ground Beef Cheesesteak Pasta Skillet
Helpful Products To Make This Recipe
Here are some of my favorite tools to make this American Goulash Recipe:
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven (6 quarts)
- Wooden Spoon Set
- Cheese Grater
Easy Goulash Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 lbs. ground beef, lean
- 3 tsp garlic, minced
- 2 15 oz cans tomato sauce
- 2 15 oz cans petite diced tomatoes
- 3 cups beef broth
- 3 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tsp seasoned salt
- 2 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 cups macaroni noodles, uncooked
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Add olive oil to large pot over medium-high heat. Add in the onion, bell pepper and ground beef then cook until beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat and return pot to stove top. Add in garlic and stir until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
- Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, Italian seasoning, bay leaves and dried macaroni noodles. Stir and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a light boil and stir occasionally until the pasta is tender, about 20 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves and stir in the cheddar cheese just before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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Michelle Bolyard
This brings back memories of my childhood.
Anna
I am an email subscriber. I haven’t made this recipe yet but have enjoyed many other recipes you have had on this site.
MrsSW
I am an email subscriber – thanks for sponsoring such a nice give-away.
Sheila
Thelma Rose
I am an email subscriber. I tried this goulash and loved it. Thank you for great recipes.
Doreen
I am a email subscriber! Great giveaway. I love goulash!
Barbara
I haven’t made goulash in years and this sounds like a very interesting recipe I will definitely try. I love receiving these email recipes.
MaryB
I love goulash – have fond memories of my mom when I make it. I love getting your email updates as I always seem to find things I want to make.
Susan Rand
Can’t wait to try this recipe! I am a email subscriber.
Jeanne Grigsby
I’m a email subscriber. I haven’t had goulash since I was a kid, think I need to make some soon
Stephanie J. Schiltz
I am an e-mail subscriber! It always takes me by surprise when this dish is called “goulash”. I’m 67 and my Mom fixed this dish all through my childhood and I made it for my kids. We call it “Johnny Marzetti”. It’s comfort food!
Shawn
What an interesting name to call it! But then again, I guess Goulash is a pretty interesting name too! Thanks for the comment Stephanie!
Elizabeth Lopez
This looks so delicious I am so going to make this. An awesome recipe.
Email subscriber.
karen rogers
Looks delicious!!! I’m an email subscriber
Beverlie Goodson
I haven’t made this in along time, thanks for reminding me. I’m glad I subscribe to your site with emails
Shawn
Thanks for being a subscriber! Hope you enjoy the recipe Beverlie!
Linda P.
I grew calling this dish American Chop Suey, one of my favorites !!
Shawn
What a fun name to call it! I never realized there were so many names to this comfort dish! 🙂
nancy l durham
looks delious, need to try this recipe, love goulash.
Jess W.
Is there a way to swap the tomato base for something else? There are a few members of the family that are sensitive to tomato. I am an email subscriber.
Shawn
Hey Jess, how about using just beef broth instead of the tomato sauce? I would increase it from 3 cups to 6 cups. If the diced tomatoes are too much too, you could probably leave those out and swap in more diced peppers!
Marie Buccellato
Yummmm! Have not made yet but will. Love being on your email list!
Shawn
Thanks Marie! I hope you enjoy it!
Rick
I’ve been a fan of your great recipes for a long time. Haven’t made a goulash like this since college (decades ago) but am looking forward to try this version. As requested I am an email subscriber.
Shawn
Thanks Rick! I am so glad you are a subscriber! Hope you enjoy this recipe!
Ingeborg Rosenthal
Looks delicious, will make this soon. Excited to see how it works with dried macaroni.
Chatina Guedea
It looks good!
Barbara Thompson
My husband is Hungarian and I am afraid this is NOT a receipe for goulash (at least not the Hungerian version). Goulash in Hungay is like a hearty beef soup that the cowboys used to make. This is still a good easy dinner. Thanks!
Shawn
Hey Barbara, you’re right that this isn’t a Hungarian Goulash, but rather an American Goulash! While it has similar aspects, it’s different. 😉
Margaret Rawson
I’m an e-mail subscriber. Am anxious to try this – I love goulash.
Dianne
Love this! Exactly how my mom made it and I am still making it today. I am on e mail list
Carolyn (Cara)
This looks so delicious, really filling for hungry tums and affordable to make .. will definitely use this recipe. I’m an email subscriber and really enjoy opening my inbox to receive the latest from you
Francis L Trotta
It looks and sounds great. I am an email subscriber.
Anne
My grandmother made Hungarian goulash which I love! I’m going to try your recipe – it looks very good. Thanks!
Desiré Poulin
I am trying this tonight! I am an email subscriber!
Skip Frank
This looks delish, mandvi hope to try very soon. I am an email subscriber and love your recipes!
Kristen P
Definitely looks delicious! I’m an email subscriber as well!
Anna
Thank you for sharing your recipes. My family and I are big fans.
I am an email subscriber.
Anna
I love trying all of your recipes! They are always family friendly and delicious!! I am an email subscriber and I love getting all of your new recipes in my inbox!!
Lisa Anderson
I will try this soon. I am an email subscribee
Suzanne
Looks yummy! I’m an email subscriber.
Michelle Sukkel
My mom used to make this when we were kids and it still a go to for me when I need comfort food. Will definitely use this! I am an email subscriber thank you for this contest.
Domonique Rushun Frost
I am an email subscriber and I will definitely will be trying this recipe after my recovery, I love all the ingredients.
Adriana
I can`t wait to try it! I’m an email subscriber
Kimberley
This looks yummy! Can I use beef cubes instead of ground?
I am an email subscriber. I love all your recipes, in fact, just made your meatloaf on Sunday, my family raves about it! 🙂
Leslie Walden
One of my favorite meals is goulash. Its so easy and delicious. I can not wait to try this recipe. Im a email subscriber and i love all the great meals you send my way. Thank you!
Tara Duncan
Yah- thanks for saving me from figuring out what to make tonight! It’s Goulash for the win! My mouth is watering!
I’m a email subscriber too!
Thanks!
Josh
My girlfriend loves a good goulash. I can’t wait to make this. I’m an email subscriber.
Bob Mitchell
Looks delicious! I’m an email subscriber.
Donna D Rolen
Haven’t tried this recipe yet, but printed it and will give it a go. I grew up on Goulash. Mom made a big pot and it fed all six kids and her and Dad with leftovers! Thanks for the memory – made me smile.
Lori
I am going to try this recipe next week.
Jane Richmond
This recipe looks fantastic and comforting. It will be perfect for the Super Bowl this Sunday. I love all you recipes, and I’m an email subscriber.
Mary
Hi, I’m an email subscriber, would like to be entered in $50 gift card giveaway. AND I also love your recipes coming to my email, this goulash looks fantastic and easy. Thanks
Emma Rathke
Easy Goulash Recipe- looks absolutely amazing, I’m going to be making this over the weekend for sure !!!
I’m an email subscriber
Lenora Howard
Looks so good. I am an e-mail subscriber.