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Large pot filled with cheesy, beefy, noodle-filled American goulash ready to be served.
4.87 from 852 votes

American Goulash Recipe

American Goulash is an easy, one-pot meal made with ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni noodles. Everyone's favorite yummy weeknight dinner!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 661kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onions - minced
  • 1 green bell pepper - seeded and diced
  • 8 cloves garlic - minced
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 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!

Notes

  • If you don't have any macaroni on hand, any other small pasta shape will work including ditalini, orzo, and orecchiette.
  • For a leaner goulash, trade the ground beef for ground turkey. You may also use ground Italian sausage.
  • While it would stray from traditional versions, feel free to add more vegetables such as carrot, celery, onion, zucchini, bell pepper, or cabbage (as recommended by one reader).
  • Make it dairy-free by skipping the added cheese.
  • Add more or less liquid to make it the exact consistency you want!
  • Paprika isn't a traditional ingredient in classic American Goulash. You may include it or leave it out.
  • Feel free to swap the fresh garlic for 1-2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
  • No Italian seasoning? Add 1 teaspoon of dried oregano and dried basil.
  • Allow leftovers to come to room temperature before storing in an airtight container. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently over low heat or in the microwave. Add additional broth or water as needed.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 661kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 1114mg | Potassium: 587mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 830IU | Vitamin C: 15.1mg | Calcium: 261mg | Iron: 3.7mg
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