This warm comforting American Goulash is made with simple ingredients, all in one pot! Easy, home-style comfort food that’s perfect for family dinner.
American Goulash
American goulash is warm, comforting, and so easy to make. It combines the simple flavors of ground beef and noodles in a tangy tomato sauce, all in one pot. This cooking method infuses the noodles with extra flavor.
It’s comfort food to the max, and can be made, top to bottom, in less than 45 minutes. It’s like a warm hug in a bowl.
What is Goulash?
A traditional goulash is actually a Hungarian soup or stew with meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Sometimes potatoes were added for starch.
This version is American goulash, which is quite different than the original Hungarian version. It has a tomato broth base for the sauce with ground beef and noodles as the primary ingredients.
What to Serve with American Goulash
American Goulash already has noodles and beef, so I like to serve it with a vegetable side.
A fresh green salad is one of the easiest options. You could also serve with warm veggies such as steamed green beans or broccoli, or sauteed zucchini.
Can You Freeze American Goulash?
Yes! Simply prepare the recipe according to the instructions. Then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or covered dish. Freeze for up to 3-6 months.
When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. To reheat, bake in an oven-safe dish at 350°F for about 30 minutes, covered, until completely heated through.
How to Make American Goulash
In a large pot or skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef with onion and garlic until cooked through and no longer pink (photo 1). Drain fat, and return to heat.
Add beef broth, diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning (photo 2). Stir to combine. Bring to a boil (photo 3). Add macaroni (photo 4). Stir. Reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer covered for about 20 minutes, until noodles are tender and cooked through and sauce has reduced. Stir in sugar and salt and pepper to taste.
Pro Tips
- This recipe is naturally dairy free. (Double check your noodles to be sure, but most are dairy free.)
- To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten free noodles.
- If you need a substitute for beef broth, use chicken broth or water in a pinch.
- Top with cheese! Add some shredded cheddar, mozzarella, or Parmesan on top. After cooking, sprinkle on cheese. Then cover, and allow the steam to melt the cheese so that’s it’s melted and gooey on top!
- Add veggies! This is a great dish to sneak in some extra veggies or use up leftover veggies. Try zucchini, bell peppers, mixed vegetables, cooked carrots, or riced cauliflower.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. Reheat in a microwave-safe dish.
- Freezer Instructions: Follow preparation instructions. Then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or dish, covered. Freeze for up to 3-6 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving. Bake at 350°F for about 20-30 minutes, covered, until heated through to reheat.
More Easy Dinner Recipes You’ll Love
- Unstuffed Peppers – all the flavors of stuffed peppers in one cheesy, skillet dinner.
- Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff – fresh ingredients in the slow cooker to make a creamy delicious stroganoff. Serve over noodles!
- Creamy Sausage Pasta – creamy and tangy with sausage and cheese.
- Slow Cooker Meatloaf – cook meatloaf right in the slow cooker for a super easy version of our favorite meatloaf.
- Cheeseburger Biscuit Bake – quick and easy one dish meal that the whole family will love.
- Barbecue Ranch Chicken Pizza – a fun spin on a classic that’s easy to make at home!
American Goulash
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 medium onions diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 cans diced tomatoes (15 ounces each) undrained
- 1 jar tomato pasta sauce (24 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 can tomato paste (6 ounces)
- 2 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot or skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef with onion and garlic until cooked through and no longer pink. Drain fat, and return to heat.
- Add beef broth, diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil.
- Add macaroni. Stir. Reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer covered for about 20 minutes, until noodles are tender and cooked through and sauce has reduced.
- Stir in sugar and salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- This recipe is naturally dairy free. (Double check your noodles to be sure, but most are dairy free.)
- To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten free noodles.
- If you need a substitute for beef broth, use chicken broth or water in a pinch.
- Top with cheese! Add some shredded cheddar, mozzarella, or Parmesan on top. After cooking, sprinkle on cheese. Then cover, and allow the steam to melt the cheese so that’s it’s melted and gooey on top!
- Add veggies! This is a great dish to sneak in some extra veggies or use up leftover veggies. Try zucchini, bell peppers, mixed vegetables, cooked carrots, or riced cauliflower.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. Reheat in a microwave-safe dish.
- Freezer Instructions: Follow preparation instructions. Then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or dish, covered. Freeze for up to 3-6 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving. Bake at 350°F for about 20-30 minutes, covered, until heated through to reheat.
Nutrition
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This is such a classic from my childhood, I can’t wait to make it again!!
We are always looking for one pot meals to make! Busy nights means we need something easy to cook! Loved how this turned out!
My whole family loves this recipe! So easy and tasty! I’ll definitely be making again and again!
What a wonderful variation of a classic recipe. My dad used to make this all the time when we were children and it was a family favorite. I am excited to try your version as it’s different from ours and change is GOOD! Bookmarking this!
This is a bowl of comfort food right there. I love how easy it is to prepare, and it’s always a favorite in my home. 🙂
This is my absolute favorite goulash recipe! My whole family loved it when I made it last week, so it will definitely be on our regular rotation!
Talk about comfort food! This American goulash has it all! Would love a big bowl of this on a cold day.
This is very similar to something I used to make, but I had completely forgotten about it. I followed your recipe and it’s never turned out this good before! A new weeknight favourite for sure.
Such a great comfort classic! My mom used to make this all the time it was a favorite!