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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Kristie
I am an email subscriber and just live your recipes!! They are family friendly with no crazy ingredients!
Sandra L Ladner
I’m a new subscriber but I’ve saved several recipes that have passed the “grandchildren” test! This will be my next recipe to test on the kids.I thank you in advance for helping me keep my imagine of the comfort food Meme‼️
Peggy Middlebrook
I am an email subscriber and when this recipe came up, I drooled then showed it to my hubby, who said OMG, that looks like what my mom use to make! So…… I can’t wait to try this out right after Super Bowl meal of ( your Instant Pot baby back ribs). We loved your Taco soup and I suspect this will be right up there. Thanks for your creativity!!
Cindy Ryun
I am an email subscriber. This recipe looks great, might make this for Super Bowl party Sunday!
GO CHIEFS!
Mary
I’m an email subscriber. I’m fairly new here and fairly new to cooking as well lol. I luv how your recipes are so easy to follow. My family enjoys the food and I get to look like I know what I’m doing thx
Sandy J.
I’m an e-mail subscriber AND I live just up the road in Cedar City! Been following you for a few years now…love your quick and easy and TASTY recipes! Goulash has been a fave in my family since I was a child…talk about comfort food!!
William Sullivan
I can’t wait to make this! I am an email subscriber
Nancy Possidente
I am a email subscriber. This recipe look delicious
Nina Watters
Looks delicious, plus I love cashew chicken. I’ll be making this very soon I’m an e-mail subscriber
Bonnie
Looks yummy email subscriber
Jennifer
That looks so delicious!!! I am an email subscriber.
Richard DeKnock
This sounds wonderful! I am making this recipe tonight! Has anybody spiced it up a little by adding a little cayenne pepper or paprika? I am an email subscriber. As a consultant for Tastefully Simple, I will be using our Italian Garlic Seasoning for the Italian Seasoning!
With this recipe and Tastefully Simple, how can it go wrong!!
Trudy Musgrove
I am an email subscriber! Deliciously good!!
Linda
Looks yummy! I am an email subscriber…
Linda Baudoin
Looks delish! Will have to try this weekend!
Liz Griffin
This sounds delish. Will be making it tomorrow. I am an email subscriber.
Lucy Blanco
I will surely make this dish it looks delish, mother loves any pasta recipe and this will make our favorites list. I am an email subscriber.
Patricia Harley
I made this recipe and my family went crazy over it. Will be making it again. It was delicious. I am a e-mail subscriber and would love to win the Amazon gift card.
Debbie Welchert
I’m always looking for new ways to make goulash. Mine is kind of tasteless. This recipe looks like it would have plenty of flavor. I can’t wait to try it. I am an email subscriber.
SUSAN VANDERWEST
I am an email subscriber. This recipe is very similar to the one I use, though I use celery instead of green pepper, simply due to personal preference. Love goulash…it’s always in my rotation for a fast, easy meal. Thank you, Shawn!
Yvonne Shannon
Love goulash and will try this one in my IP. Yes, I am an email subscriber. Just wish there were more recipes for 2 people only. I have to divide all the recipes unless we want to be eating something for 2 or 3 days. Some things don’t freeze well. Other than that I do love all the recipes you put online. Keep it up.
Kristi
I am an email subscriber. Love your recipes! Especially the fast easy ones that I can convert to my IP like this recipe! Thanks!!!
Cathy Martin
I’m an email subscriber. I grew up eating goulash but I haven’t made it in years. Your’s look much more tastier! I will definitely be making yours! I enjoy your blog and recipes! Thanks
Inge Emmonds
I am currently not an email subscriber … but would love to join. Enjoy making a lot of your recipes! Will be making the goulash recipe for my family this weekend. Would love a chance to win the contest! Thank you again for some wonderful recipes.
Tracy
I’m an email subscriber and I love your recipes and blog emails that I receive. I even like some videos and recipes on Facebook. Thank you for the delicious food and ideas.
Janet McGuire
Your site is the only food one that I want to get regular emails from. I like the fact that they use normal everyday ingredients and are simple to make. Thanks.
Richard Arthur
10 out of 10. great taste. Easy to fix for a crowd
Wendy Boom
I am an email subscriber. I love your blog and since I am a new Instant Pot user I appreciate all the recipes and tips. Thanks
Sheila
I’m an email subscriber. This is an easy hamburger dish that pleases most anyone. Love your blog.
Kriston Shorter
I am an email subscriber. Our family LOVES goulash and it’s one of our all time favorite comfort foods. My recipe is very similar to yours and has come from a couple generations back in my family. I am excited to throw in the ingredients that you have in your recipe that I currently don’t use to give it a try.
I am a new subscriber but I have really enjoyed your site and emails.
Thank you for the great recipes.
Sheila
I am an email subscriber and appreciate the opportunity to win this contest. I enjoy reading your recipes and print off many of them to try. My grandchildren will enjoy your goulash!
Shelli Scott
Email subscriber and your recipe for goulasf ~~
Dorothy Pyefinch
I am an email subscriber. Must admit that GOULASH is one of my favorite winter food BUT it will even better looking at your recipe. YUMMY!
Candy
I am an email subscriber too! I grew up with Goulash and we still love it! Thank you for all the delicious recipes.
Susan
I am an email subscriber than loves this recipe due to the ease of cooking, makes a large pot for leftover and left over taste better the next day! Thanks
Bill F
I’m a subscriber, and look forward to your recipes. I like all kinds of ground beef recipes; but have never tried “goulash”. It looks good, I’ll have to give it a try.
Debbie Ganoung
Hi Shawn, I am one of your email subscribers and I really love getting the recipes in my email. I have even decided to make them the day I receive them because they sound so good, and I just don’t know some days what I’m going to make! So you have saved the day at times! This goulash recipe sounds better than the one my mom handed down to me, I’ll be making it this Sunday for sure. Thanks again, Debbie
Ann Marie Weicikosky
I AM AN EMAIL SUBSCRIBER. I MAKE THIS RECIPE A LOT. I LOVE YOUR BLOG!
Anne
I am an email subscriber. I love this recipe (it reminds me of my mom’s home cooking as a kid!) and all of your recipes! Your blog is my go-to, when I want a delicious and easy meal. Your recipes are always approved by even the pickiest eaters in my family!
Jodi Richardson
I am an email subscriber. Goulash is one of my family’s favorite dish. My kids always want some corn added to the pot so I like that that was an option that you provided. It’s predicted to be cold so this sounds like a good warm meal to make.
Paula Johnson
I am an email subscriber and I can’t wait to try this recipe. Heading out to the grocery store to pick up a few items I need to make this. I already have my big pot out and ready to use.
Linda Munro
I am an email subscriber and look forward to getting all of your yummy recipes. I have made many, many of your recipes for my family and always enjoy trying out the new ones. This tasty looking goulash maybe a winner for the busy weekend ahead. Thanks for all your ideas on I Wash You Dry.