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
PIN THIS IMAGE TO SAVE THE RECIPE:
Daniel Butterworth
Sorry, but cooking the pasta in the meat sauce made this starchy and gummy, leaving a horrible paste like taste to dish. Ended up throwing most of it out. If trying this recipe, would highly recommend cooking pasta in water and mixing in towards end of recipe.
Shawn
I’m wondering if you didn’t add enough beef broth? Or possibly added too much pasta? I’ve never had an issue with it, but if you feel it would taste better with the pasta cooked separately, then go for it! 🙂
Ian Schafer
Shaun I want to do a meal plan with your recipes that I fancy is there a way that I can select them & add to my plan
Shawn
Hi Ian! There is a “Shop Ingredients” button at the bottom of the ingredients list. This will collect the recipes you’re wanting to make and let you shop the ingredients online with your local grocery stores. I hope that helps you!
Carly Edmonds
TOmatoe sauce, are we talking ketchup or passata or purée ? Or just a jarred pasta sauce ?
Shawn
You could use a tomato purée or even crushed tomatoes if that’s what is available where you are.
Kathy
Always a favorite dish of ours growing up and enough to go around easy to make “very affordable” and Mom didn’t have to stand over a hot stove for hours to cook for 12 children
Shawn
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it!
Diana Berne
Made this again and as usual, I didn’t have all the ingredients.
Used chicken broth, instead of beef broth. Didn’t have seasoning salt so, I added a teaspoon of powdered beef broth, which was all I had. Don’t buy green peppers either due to their ability to repeat on me and added canned string beans, and two cans of corn. Delicious and comforting as well!
Thank you for your recipes! I so appreciate you and the website!
Umm, how do I submit a photo? Lol
Shawn
I’m so glad you were able to make it work with what you had on hand! This recipe is GREAT for that! You can always share your pictures on instagram or pinterest! Just use the hashtag #iwashyoudry so I can see it! 🙂
Jessica
This was delicious. My husband and I loved it. Unfortunately my picky daughter did not.
Shawn
Well, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad! Ha! I’m glad you were still able to enjoy it!
Diana Berne
One of best stew like recipes I have ever tasted!
I am not partial to cooking. I enjoy baking more and this was Devine! So easy, too!
I give this two thumbs up!
Shawn
So glad you enjoyed it Diana!
Sharon Cook
Can you freeze leftovers?
Shawn
Definitely! It does make quite a bit!
Sunshine513
I made this as written except for I had to substitute red bell pepper for the green. I also halved all ingredient amounts since I was cooking for three. We really enjoyed it! My husband commented that he enjoyed the spice level. Thanks for yet another great dish, Shawn!
Shawn
So glad you enjoyed it! I appreciate your comment!
Patti F.
Such a great recipe for our family and the grandchildren love it.
Shawn
Glad you enjoyed it!
Kay Borer
So good! So easy! I added rotel tomatoes to add a little kick. Yummy! Hubby and brother in law loved it! Going to make again to freeze. Love to put meals in the freezer for when I’m short on time. Thanks for posting!!
Lorrie Rung
I make this recipe with comb of beef and Italian sausage. DELICIOUS
Jo
This recipe will become a regular as my grandson loves it, and so do I!
Shawn
Fantastic! So glad you enjoyed it!
Anne
Made this last night and it was delicious! I used cavatappi noodles, but kept everything else the same. We all loved it, and my 2 year old literally stuffed her face – she couldn’t stop eating it! I’d recommend checking the noodles pretty frequently – they probably need more like 12-15 mins than 20. Thanks for another delicious recipe – yours are truly the BEST!
Shawn
That’s so sweet! I’m so glad you enjoyed the Goulash and that your kids loved it too! 🙂
Jolene
Can I use elbow noodles? And would I still use 2 cups?
Shawn
Yes and yes! Enjoy!
Jane Abernathy
I am an email subscriber. This recipe brings back so many fond memories. My Mother used to be a Cub Scout Den Mother and when it was her turn to do the dinner she would make this. Only we called it “Cub Scout Special” !
Thanks for reminding me.
Becky Klass
I made this for my family tonight, they all loved it. Thanks for the easy dinner, this is a keeper!
Shawn
So glad you enjoyed it!
Olivia
I’m an email subscriber. I was going to make spaghetti this week. I am going to try your goulash recipe instead. Looks easy to make.
Shawn
Hope you enjoy it Olivia!
Tammy
Hi I am an email subscriber. I was planning to make goulash tonight but I am trying your way instead. Sounds easy!!
Gg
Delicious and simple. Its on rotation. I use San Marazano tomatoes.
I’m a email subscriber.
Shawn
So glad you enjoyed it!
Kathy
I eat this and the word “home” comes to mind. Perfect!!
Billie Rosene
Hi, I am an email subscriber and this sounds wonderful and delicious. I do not think it will
be difficult for me either. Thank you for your blog and great recipes!
Pam Frost
I’m a subscriber, and I love looking for quick meals that are easily cleaned up as well!
Margaret L Britt
*I have made many of your delicious dishes. I am an email subscriber and looking forward to more delicious meals in the future. Thank you so much!
Beth Pottle
I am an email subscriber and I love your simple yet tasty recipes.
Daphne Braswell
I am an e-mail subscriber. I love getting new recipes for just about any occasion…my family is also grateful for the variety of dishes come dinner time 🙂
Sheri Hoffman
I am making my grocery list and grabbing the ingredients to make this dish. I WILK cone back and rate it afterwards. It looks delicious! I am an email subscriber. Thanks!
Pamela
This sounds so good, I think I will make it tonight!
Anita Dehghani
I am an email subscriber.
Please add me to your drawing.
I will try using beef broth next time I make this.
I add sliced celery and carrots when I make this.
I was going to make chili tomorrow but I may need to rethink and do goulosh instead.
Kathy Sall
This goulash recipe looks so delicious and I never thought to put cheese in goulash! I can’t wait to give it a try!! Thanks for all your delicious recipes I just love your blog. I am an avid email subscriber
Ilene
I’m an email subscriber. This recipe looks so easy and flavorful. Can’t wait to try it!
Ann Cox
This looks super easy and delicious. I love getting your emails. Always something exciting. Thanks for sharing your creativity.
Dani Flores
Made this last night and it was AHHH-MAAAAZZZZING! New family favorite!
I’m an email subscriber and look forward to each and every one!
Jerralea Miller
I’ve been an email subscriber of your and have pinned lots of your recipes. Goulash is the best! I haven’t tried your particular recipe, yet, but it’s got to be great!
Mommabear
LOVE LOVE LOVE being an e-mail subscriber!!!
Best mouthwatering recipes in every email!
Thanks Shawn
Ed S
Wow!! I can’t wait to try this. My mother used to make this SAME dish and we always thought she was joking when she called it Hungarian Goulash.
Dave Fleming
Have never had goulash and would like to try it and i am an e-mail subscriber
Julie
Looks delicious – I’ll have to try this!
I’m an email subscriber!
Juanita
I am a subscriber and try many of the delicious recipes. I am looking forward to winning the Amazon gift card so I can buy needed cooking accessories.
Cindy Dabbs
I am an email subscriber. My daughter loves this goulash recipe. She always asks me to make this for her when she comes home from college and to make sure there is enough leftover to take back with her. We love your recipes!
Sarah
Soul food! What’s not to like? I am an email subscriber
Connie White
I am an email subscriber. My children loved goulash when they were growing up
Katy
I am an email subscriber and so glad I am! I am a super picky eater who is working to lessen my pickiness. Your recipes are helping me with that! This sounds like something I am totally willing to try 🙂
Louellen M
I am an email subscriber.
This sounds like a great weeknight dinner!