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This Goulash Recipe is an American classic made with simple ingredients like ground beef, tomatoes, macaroni noodles, and gooey cheddar cheese. It’s an easy, comforting, one-pot recipe loved by the whole family!

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Featured Reader Comments
“Such a fantastic recipe!! It’s like my moms goulash but better (sorry mom!!).” -Todd
“Great recipe! Everyone approved and wouldn’t change a thing. Made for a wonderful comfort food for dinner on this 20°F January evening!” – D’Luise
Why You’ll Love This Classic Goulash Recipe
When it comes to cozy weeknight dinners, nothing beats a pot of homemade goulash. This one-pot recipe is filled with tender macaroni noodles, hearty ground beef, and a rich tomato sauce that simmers together into the ultimate comfort food. Just like classic beef stew, homemade chili, and chicken soup, this recipe is the kind of family-friendly meal you’ll find yourself making again and again. Here’s what else makes this goulash special:
- It’s easy and affordable. Simple pantry staples keeps this goulash recipe approachable. It’s proof that you don’t need fancy ingredients to create a flavorful and filling meal for the whole family.
- It’s super adaptable. You can easily swap in ground turkey, sausage, or chicken, add extra vegetables, or adjust the spices to match your family’s taste.
- It’s fantastic leftover, too. Goulash tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together. Pack it for lunch or reheat it for an easy dinner.
Table of contents
What is American Goulash?
American goulash is a classic comfort food popular across the Midwest and South. Unlike Hungarian goulash, which is a paprika-spiced beef stew, American goulash is made with ground beef, macaroni noodles, and a rich tomato sauce. Everything cooks in one pot, making it an easy, budget-friendly meal that’s perfect for busy families and anyone craving a hearty bowl of cheesy, meaty pasta.
What You’ll Need
Before we dive into cooking, let’s talk about the ingredients that make this goulash recipe so flavorful and comforting. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of what each ingredient does in the dish, along with some easy substitutions. For the complete ingredient list and printable recipe card, scroll to the bottom of this post.
- Aromatics: Onion, green bell pepper, and garlic form the flavor foundation for goulash. The onion and bell pepper add sweetness and depth, while garlic brings a rich, savory note. Feel free to swap in red or yellow bell peppers, or add extras like celery, carrots, or zucchini for more vegetables. If you don’t have fresh garlic, 1-2 teaspoons of garlic powder work in a pinch.
- Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is the traditional protein in American goulash, providing the dish with a hearty flavor and texture. Using lean meat helps reduce excess grease, but you can also substitute ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage for a different twist.
- Seasonings: A blend of salt, black pepper, paprika, Italian seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce adds depth and balance. Paprika (optional) enhances color and gives a subtle smokiness, Italian seasoning provides an herby base, and Worcestershire sauce (or soy sauce) adds a savory umami kick. Don’t have Italian seasoning? Try a mix of dried oregano and basil instead.
- Tomato Base: Tomato paste, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes create the thick, rich sauce that makes goulash so comforting. Tomato paste offers concentrated flavor, while the sauce and diced tomatoes add body and texture. You can swap in crushed tomatoes or Rotel if you want a spicier or slightly different flavor profile.
- Liquid: Beef broth keeps the dish saucy and adds extra richness. If you don’t have it on hand, chicken broth, vegetable broth, or even water will work.
- Pasta: Elbow macaroni is traditional in American goulash and the ideal shape for soaking up the sauce. Other small pasta shapes like cavatappi, ditalini, or orecchiette are also great options if that’s what you have in your pantry.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese is stirred in at the end to make the goulash extra creamy and cheesy. You can substitute mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or skip the cheese entirely to keep the recipe dairy-free.
How to Make Goulash
Making goulash is simple, and the best part is that everything cooks in one pot. Here’s an overview of the process:
- Sauté the aromatics. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven, then cook the onions and bell peppers until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Brown the beef. Stir in the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika, then drain any excess grease if needed.
- Build the sauce. Add the Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and bay leaves, then bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add the pasta. Pour in the broth and stir in the elbow macaroni. Cover and cook until the noodles are al dente, stirring occasionally so they don’t stick.
- Finish with cheese. Remove from heat, stir in shredded cheddar cheese, and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
This easy goulash recipe takes about an hour from start to finish and is perfect for busy weeknights.
Reader Swaps and Substitutions
One of the reasons this goulash recipe is so well-loved is its flexibility. Many readers have shared their own family twists, and here are a few favorites in their own words:
- Cheesy and baked. “Our family has cooked this for years, but we add grated parmesan cheese in addition to cheddar cheese and we add pimento-stuffed green olives (instead of the green bell pepper)…we mix it all up, pour into a baking dish, cover with more cheddar cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and just starting to brown a bit.” – Stevielynne
- Red wine and heat. “The only tweak was a pinch of red pepper flakes and a splash or two of red wine! This I would dare say is better than my Nebraskan cousin’s recipe for which she is famous!” – Judi
- Extra veggies. “My husband and I love adding veggies so I added more onion and peppers and added 2 cups fresh chopped spinach at the end.” – Lindsay
- Simple tomato swap. “Instead of tomato paste I use 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes.” – Jennifer
- Spicy Rotel version. “I added some crushed red pepper and subbed Rotel for one of the cans of diced tomatoes.” – Stacy
These swaps and substitutions show just how customizable this goulash recipe can be, making it easy to adapt to your family’s tastes and pantry staples.
Serving Suggestions
American goulash is what I would consider a “one-pan meal”, but I almost always round it out with a couple of easy sides. My family loves it with warm garlic bread, cornbread, or even soft dinner rolls. I also like to add something fresh to the table, usually a simple green salad or a tangy cucumber salad to balance out the richness of the pasta and beef. And if I have extra veggies on hand, I’ll roast Brussels sprouts, steam a little broccoli, or quickly sauté zucchini for a colorful and healthy side dish.
Make Ahead Tips
Goulash is a fantastic recipe to prepare ahead of time, especially if you’re planning meals for the week. To prevent the pasta from becoming too soft, I highly recommend cooking the noodles separately from the sauce. This will keep your goulash fresh, flavorful, and never mushy.
- Cook the sauce first. Follow the recipe through the simmering step, stopping before you add the macaroni and broth. Let the sauce cool, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prepare the pasta separately. Cook the macaroni until al dente, drain well, and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking. Then store it in a separate container in the refrigerator.
- Combine before serving. When ready to eat, reheat the sauce on the stovetop, stir in the pasta, and add the cheese just before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Storage Tips
Like most comfort food recipes, goulash makes excellent leftovers and is easy to store for another meal.
- Refrigerator: Allow the goulash to cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Warm leftovers on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Add a splash of beef broth or water if the sauce has thickened too much. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each, until hot.
Can You Freeze Old Fashioned Goulash?
Yes, you can freeze goulash, but for the best texture, it’s smart to freeze the sauce separately from the pasta. Cooked macaroni noodles will continue to absorb liquid and can turn mushy after freezing and reheating.
- Best Method: Prepare the beef and tomato sauce as directed, but stop before adding the pasta. Let the sauce cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- When Ready to Serve: Reheat the sauce on the stovetop, cook a fresh batch of macaroni, and stir everything together with cheese just before serving.
- Freezing Fully Cooked Goulash: If you freeze the finished dish (with pasta), expect a softer noodle texture once reheated. Still delicious, just less firm.
More Comfort Food Recipes
American Goulash Recipe (One-Pot Classic)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoon salt, more or less to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more or less to taste
- 1 tablespoon paprika, (optional)
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, (or soy sauce)
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 2 (15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth, (or 2 cups water)
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté for 5-6 minutes, or until starting to soften and turn translucent. Then, add the bell pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the salt, pepper, and paprika to the veggies. Mix well.
- Add the ground beef to the pot. Use a wooden spatula to break apart the meat into small crumbles. Stir frequently and continue to cook until meat is browned. Optional: Drain excess grease from the pot.
- Add the Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste. Mix well to combine and cook over medium heat for a minute or so. Stir in the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Add the bay leaves, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Stir in the broth and elbow macaroni, cover, and simmer for approximately 15 minutes, or until noodles are cooked to al dente. Stir every couple of minutes to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheese. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Pasta swaps: If you don’t have elbow macaroni, try ditalini, orzo, orecchiette, or another small pasta shape.
- Protein options: For a leaner goulash, use ground turkey or chicken. Italian sausage also makes a flavorful substitute.
- Extra vegetables: Add carrots, celery, zucchini, bell peppers, or even cabbage for more nutrition and texture.
- Dairy-free option: Simply skip the cheese or use a dairy-free alternative.
- Adjust the consistency: Add more or less broth depending on whether you like your goulash thicker or saucier.
- Paprika flexibility: Not traditional in American goulash, but paprika adds color and mild smokiness if you’d like to include it.
- Garlic shortcut: Replace fresh garlic with 1 to 2 teaspoons of garlic powder if that’s what you have on hand.
- Seasoning swap: No Italian seasoning? Use 1 teaspoon each of dried oregano and dried basil.
- Storage: Let leftovers cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or water if needed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this today and itโs as delicious as it looks
Thank you Linda ๐
Made this tonight with garlic bread and it was delicious!
Thank you so much for your feedback! Iโm so happy you enjoyed itโand serving it with garlic bread sounds absolutely perfect!
Very good! Warm and comforting on a chilly fall evening. Husband went back for secondsโฆand thirds! I added some crushed red pepper and subbed Rotel for one of the cans of diced tomatoes. Next time I make it I will use the larger size elbow macaroni.
Thank you so much for your kind words! Iโm glad it was a hit with your family (especially your husband going back for thirds!). Love the idea of adding crushed red pepper and using Rotel for a little extra kick. And bigger elbows are always a good ideaโmore sauce with every bite! Thanks again for trying the recipe and for sharing your tweaks!
If I only want to use 1 lb of ground beef can I still use the full amount of the rest of the ingredients? I LOVE this recipe!
Yes, that will be fine ๐
Good flavor but elbows were mush. Son compared it to Spaghetti-Oโs. If I make again, I will cook pasta separately or will use cavatappi (or another more substantial pasta).
VERY GOOD!!!!!!