Classic American Goulash Recipe (2024)

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American goulash is an easy, old-fashioned, and comforting meal that is insanely delicious and perfect for the cold winter months. Everything cooks in one pot, even the pasta!

Everyone needs a hearty recipe that they can go to on those chilly days where you want to be warmed up from the inside out! Try this chicken stew, this fantastic beef stroganoff, or this yummy BEST EVER Beef Bourguignon!

Classic American Goulash Recipe (1)

What is American Goulash?

Goulash is a hearty dish of stewed beef and tomatoes that was first developed as a Hungarian dish. It typically doesn’t even have pasta, but this American version does and cooks right in the sauce. This makes it an easy and complete meal. It tastes similar to lasagna but without ricotta cheese. I love it because it’s a 1:1 ratio of meaty red sauce with noodles. The more beefy sauce, the better!

This time of year is all about the hearty meals that keep us warm and leave us feeling full and satisfied. American goulash will do precisely that! Plus, it’s easy to make. Get ready for this… You make it all in ONE POT. It only takes about 10 minutes to prepare, and then the rest of the time, it’s just cooking on the stove. This recipe makes a lot, so it’s perfect for feeding a big family, sharing with others, or eating the leftovers for lunch the rest of the week. Enjoy!

Ingredients in One-Pot Goulash

This delicious one-pot meal is perfect when you need an easy recipe for those busy, on-the-go nights. The ingredients are simple, and you probably have most of them already at home and ready to go! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Ground Beef: I like to use lean ground beef in this recipe.
  • Onion: Dice up your onion into small, similar sized pieces.
  • Garlic Cloves: If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves on hand then you can use minced garlic. 1/2 teaspoon equals about 1 clove of garlic.
  • Water: The water is used as a base to cook the pasta noodles in.
  • Beef Base(or bouillon): The beef boullion just ups the beef flavor and adds to the overall taste.
  • Tomato Sauce: The tomato sauce will mix everything together.
  • Diced Tomatoes: Canned diced tomatoes are easy and work perfect for this sauce.
  • Bay Leaves: These add in that classic, deep flavoring to the overall dish.
  • Soy Sauce: My favorite one to use is thissoy sauce.
  • Seasoned Salt: This adds to and enhances the flavors in the goulash.
  • Italian Seasoning: You can use store bought or you can make this homemadeItalian Seasoning and always have some on hand!
  • Paprika: This sweet spices adds in a lot of flavor.
  • Black Pepper: The pepper will only add in some seasoning, there isn’t enough for any heat.
  • Elbow Macaroni Noodles: The best part about these is that you pour them inuncooked! No worrying about getting these ready beforehand.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Freshlyshredded cheddar from a block will melt in the sauce better.
  • Fresh Parsley: This is used as a garnish for the finished recipe!

Let’s Make Some Dinner!

This American goulash is packed to the brim with beef, noodles, and cheese. The flavors are incredible, and my mouth waters just thinking about it!

  1. Brown the Meat: Brown ground beef in a large stock pot. Remove from pan and drain. Leave about 1-2 tablespoons grease in pan. Add the diced onion and then cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat until tender. Add the garlic and cook another minute.
  2. Simmer: Return ground beef to pot along with the water, beef base, cans of tomatoes and sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves, seasoned salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, and black pepper. Then, stir together, bring to a boil, cover, reduce to low and let simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. Add (uncooked) Noodles: Stir in the noodles then cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes or until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent noodles from sticking to the bottom.
  4. Mix in Cheese: Just before serving, stir in the cheese. Serve garnished with fresh parsley.
Classic American Goulash Recipe (2)

What’s the Difference Between Hungarian Goulash and American Goulash?

Hungarian goulash is a thick stew filled with meat and vegetables. It sometimes has dumplings or potatoes in it rather than pasta. The classic sample ingredient in traditional Hungarian goulash is paprika. American goulash doesn’t have any extra vegetables (aside from the tomato-based sauce), and it has macaroni noodles and cheese. American goulash also goes by the name “American chop suey.”

Classic American Goulash Recipe (3)

Can You Freeze American Goulash?

YES! This is a fantastic meal to make ahead of time! Here is how you can freeze it after it’s been cooked and reheat it later!

  • Freeze: Once your goulash has cooled then you can place it in a casserole dish and cover it with a double layer of foil. Or, you can put it in a ziplock bag and lay it flat in your freezer. Make sure to label your container with the date! American goulash can stay frozen for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat: When you are ready to eat your goulash, take it out of your freezer and thaw it in your fridge overnight. Heat it up on the stove on medium heat until it is warm throughout! Enjoy!
Classic American Goulash Recipe (4)

How to Store Leftovers

This goulash recipe makes a lot so it’s likely that you will have leftovers! This makes a fantastic lunch or dinner the next day!

  • In the Fridge: Place your cooled goulash in an airtight container and put it in your fridge. Leftover goulash can last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
  • Reheat: You can heat this back up on the stove on medium heat until it’s warmed through. Or, you can warm it up in the microwave. Cook it for 1-2 minutes on high and stir. Continue this until its warmed up!
Classic American Goulash Recipe (5)

What to Serve with Goulash

Goulash is a hearty dish that lends itself to just about every side out there! It’s easy to add things to this meal that your entire family will love! I like to add in some rolls or breadsticks, and a couple of veggies and maybe even a salad. I’ve gathered a few recipes that I have served with this before!

Side Dishes

Glazed Carrots

20 mins

Salads

Copycat Olive Garden Salad

15 mins

Side Dishes

Perfect “Roasted” Air Fryer Asparagus

15 mins

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Classic American Goulash Recipe (10)

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American Goulash

4.72 from 70 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

American goulash is an easy, old-fashioned, and comforting meal that is insanely delicious and perfect for the cold winter months. Everything cooks in one pot, even the pasta!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 8 People

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Brown ground beef in a large stockpot. Remove from pan and drain. Leave about 1-2 tablespoons grease in the. Add the diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat until tender. Add the garlic and cook another minute.

  • Return ground beef to pot along with the water, beef base, cans of tomatoes and sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves, seasoned salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, and black pepper. Stir together, bring to a boil, cover, reduce to low, and let simmer for 20 minutes.

  • Stir in the noodles, cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes or until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent noodles from sticking to the bottom.

  • Just before serving, stir in the cheese. Serve garnished with fresh parsley.

Video

Notes

Updated on February 2, 2022

Originally Posted on October 5, 2018

Nutrition

Calories: 562kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 29gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 1601mgPotassium: 367mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 410IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 149mgIron: 3.8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

Read More About Me

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Classic American Goulash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between Hungarian goulash and American goulash? ›

Hungarian Goulash is a thick meat and vegetable stew with a broth that's heavily seasoned with paprika, while American Goulash is a quick dish made from ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It also goes by the name of American Chop Suey.

What is American goulash made of? ›

This hardy American Goulash Recipe is one of my kids' favorites. It is a classic dish from our childhoods similar to Hamburger Helper, with ground beef and elbow macaroni cooked in a savory tomato sauce and topped with cheese. It's so easy to make this comforting one-pot meal.

What is goulash sauce made of? ›

Hearty ground beef is cooked in an intense sauce of tomatoes, onions, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and many spices. Melty cheddar cheese is added for richness and texture. And of course, there's the classic elbow macaroni! Every time I eat old fashioned goulash, I'm transported back to my childhood.

Where to get goulash recipe genshin? ›

Steps
  1. Obtain 10 pieces of Chilled Meat.
  2. Speak to Harris.
  3. Obtain the meat of the Great Snowboar King. To spawn the Great Snowboar King, melt and kill all the Snowboars in the area.
  4. Speak to Harris. Harris will give the player Recipe: Goulash.
  5. Make Goulash. ...
  6. Look for Harris at 18:00.
  7. Speak to Harris.

What is true goulash made of? ›

It is made with simple ingredients like meat, peppers and root vegetables elevated to perfection by the use of Hungary's most famous spice: paprika. Goulash can be made with beef or pork but the traditional way of making it is with beef.

Why do people put sugar in goulash? ›

The secret to this recipe is adding a little sugar. It's an important step because it mellows the acidity of the tomatoes.

What to serve with goulash for dinner? ›

European-style goulash is commonly served alongside buttery noodles, dumplings, or just simply with bread and potatoes.

What country eats the most goulash? ›

The national dish of Hungary! Boldly flavoured with stacks of paprika, lots of onion, garlic and capsicum/bell peppers, with fall apart hunks of beef. It's sort of a stew, sort of a soup.

What is technically goulash? ›

Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás) is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices.

Can you buy goulash sauce? ›

Gordon's Glorious Goulash Gourmet Sauce with smoked paprika and red pepper, slow cook for a deep and desirable flavour sensation. It's Gordon hassle free way to a delicious meal time treat.

What is the difference between Ragu and goulash? ›

Often goulash is also regarded as equal with ragout. In a ragout, the pieces of meat are usually not seared before but braised immediately in broth or other liquid. Put simply, ragout = goulash without searing.

What are the two types of goulash? ›

There are two kinds of goulash: Hungarian goulash, which calls for the slow-simmered beef to be served alongside egg noodles, and American goulash, which pulls in ground beef and cooks the noodles in the pot alongside the sauce.

What is the Goulash special dish Genshin? ›

Goulash is a Food item that the player can cook. The recipe for Goulash is obtainable by completing the World Quest Ah, Fresh Meat! Goulash reduces the rate of Sheer Cold accumulation. Like most foods, this has no effect for other players in Co-Op Mode.

Where can I obtain Chilled Meat? ›

Chilled Meat is dropped by Snowboars and The Great Snowboar King of Dragonspine.

Where are the soba noodles in Genshin? ›

The recipe for Soba Noodles is obtainable from Kiminami Anna at Kiminami Restaurant for 1,250 Mora. Depending on the quality, Soba Noodles restores 8/9/10% of Max HP to the selected character and regenerates 210/260/300 HP every 5 seconds for 30 seconds.

What does Hungarian goulash taste like? ›

Hungarian goulash is very similar to beef stew, but there are some differences. While a typical stew consists of slow braising chunks of meat with root vegetables in a seasoned broth, goulash uses spices such as caraway, cumin, paprika, and peppers which really enhance and alter the flavor from a classic beef stew.

Why do Americans call it goulash? ›

Etymology. The name originates from the Hungarian gulyás [ˈɡujaːʃ]. The word gulya means 'herd of cattle' in Hungarian, and gulyás means 'herdsman' or 'cowboy'.

Is beef stroganoff the same as Hungarian goulash? ›

Is beef stroganoff the same as goulash? No, because stroganoff is a thick pasta dish where one of the main ingredients is some type of pasta noddle, whereas goulash is more of a stew without noodles but lots of potatoes and different spices.

What is the difference between Hungarian goulash and paprikash? ›

Both paprikash and goulash are paprika-based stews, but goulash is made with beef and vegetables, while paprikash is most typically made with chicken. Recipes vary, but goulash is usually not thickened with flour like paprikash is, and goulash typically isn't enriched with cream or sour cream.

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