This easy goulash recipe is family-friendly comfort food at it’s best! It’s a one pot American classic made with beef and pasta simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce.
More one pot recipes that we love include homemade hamburger helper and easy hamburger casserole.
Table of Contents
Classic American-Style Goulash
This easy goulash recipe is a good old fashioned classic ground beef recipe that reminds me of my childhood favorite! My mom made this and salisbury steak on busy weeknights when we needed a quick 30-minute meal.
This American goulash is different than Hungarian goulash which is a hearty beef stew seasoned with paprika. It’s made with a tomato sauce, veggies, ground beef and elbow macaroni noodles. It’s quick, budget-friendly and filling. Kids love it!
I love that this easy recipe is a one-pot meal with no need to cook noodles separately like my spaghetti bolognese. It’s hearty like these one pot burrito bowls and a comforting nostalgic recipe like million dollar spaghetti casserole and tater tot casserole!
Easy Goulash Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Ground beef: I like to use 80/20 lean ground beef.
- Macaroni noodles: Other small noodles work like small shells or penne.
- Beef broth: Vegetable or chicken broth work if that is what you have on hand.
- Tomatoes: This recipes uses tomato sauce along with petite diced tomatoes.
- Vegetables: I like to add in onion, red bell pepper and corn. If you like green peppers that can be used.
- Seasonings: I use my homemade Italian seasoning but store-bought is fine.
- Cheddar cheese: While optional, I always melt sharp cheddar cheese on top before serving.
How to Make Goulash
Brown the beef, onion and peppers in large pot or large dutch oven over medium-high heat until brown. Drain any fat, then add in garlic, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt and Worcestershire sauce for flavor. Cook 1-2 more minutes.
Stir in diced tomatoes, corn, broth and tomato sauce and bring to light simmer. Then add in uncooked elbow macaroni to the meat sauce, stir and cover with lid.
Continue to cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking. Salt and pepper to taste then if desired, sprinkle with cheese and cover for about 1 minute, until cheese has melted. Garnish this American comfort food with fresh basil or parsley.
Tips and Variations
- Use ground turkey or ground chicken in place of the ground beef. Try Italian sausage for a different flavor!
- Additional vegetables like peas, green beans, shredded carrots, chopped celery or mushrooms can be added.
- For some extra creaminess, add up to a cup of sour cream at the end.
- If you like your American goulash recipe a little more of a soup consistency add an extra cup of broth, water, or tomato sauce.
- Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for some heat or some smoked paprika for a little smoky flavor.
- My Instant Pot goulash is an easier hands off way to make this dish.
Goulash Serving Suggestions
This traditional goulash recipe is rich and hearty so I love to serve it with a chopped salad and artisan bread or garlic bread to soak up all the delicious sauce.
For a seasonal easy weeknight meal that is warm and comforting, my whole family loves when I add roasted vegetables and sweet cornbread.
How to Store
- To store: Place any leftover goulash in an airtight container and store in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days.
- To reheat: I love to place the leftovers in a small baking dish and sprinkle with cheese. Then bake at 350°F until hot and bubbly. You can also warm up in the microwave
- To freeze: Place in an 8×8″ metal tin and wrap with foil. Then place it inside a freezer bag and add a freezer meal label with the date. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then cook at 350°F for 30-45 minutes, or until hot. You could also top with more cheese before baking.
Need more comfort food dinners? Try this turkey sloppy joe recipe, beef stew or cabbage soup.
More Comforting One-Pot Meals
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Easy Goulash Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 bell pepper , chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoons seasoned salt , such as Lawry’s
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning , plus more to taste
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce , plus more to taste
- 1 (15-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 (15-ounce) can beef or chicken broth , add an extra cup if desired (see note)
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 ½ cups dry elbow noodles
- Salt , plus more to taste
- Ground black pepper , plus more to taste
- Bay leaf , optional
For serving (optional): Shredded cheddar cheese and Fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook beef, onion, and pepper over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes, or until brown. Drain any grease, if needed. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, and Worcestershire sauce. Let cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, corn, and broth. Season with salt and pepper. Add bay leaf, if desired. Bring to a light simmer and add noodles. Stir and cover with a lid. Let cook 10 minutes, or until the noodles are tender, stirring halfway to prevent noodles from sticking.
- Season to taste. Sprinkle cheese over top, if desired, and cover 1 minute, or until the cheese has melted. Add fresh basil or parsley, if desired. Serve while hot!
Notes
- If you prefer more liquid, add an extra cup of broth, water, or tomato sauce.
- Also, this recipe is easy to add in extra veggies when cooking the onions. Sometimes I’ll add in chopped celery or mushrooms.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, American, Beef, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, One Pot, One Pot, Pasta
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This is a big hit with my family! This is a new family favorite, we are making this recipe again this weekend because it’s well-requested!
Our family loves this dinner! It is so easy to make make. So comforting and every age loves it!
So glad you enjoyed it!!
This dish was literally everything that I wanted it to be and more! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe
I’m so glad you loved the goulash Jess!
We enjoyed it. I will be making this recipe again. Probably on a regular basis.
So glad that you enjoyed the goulash!
Completely obsessed with this recipe! It’s so yummy and truly so perfect, it’s on our monthly repeat meals!
My son and I just wanted to make goulash and found this recipe and made it together. It was wonderful and easy with most ingredients we had on hand. We LOVED the taste and will make it again. Thank you for the well laid out recipe!
That is great to hear! I am so glad that you loved this goulash so much!
So flavorful! Loved
American, my style. Diced tomatoes with lime and green chilies, beef broth for the noodles and hickory BBQ sause, no tomatoes.sauce
Total comfort food right here, my kids devoured this!
One of my families favorite dinner recipes. I love that I can make it on the stove or in the crockpot!
Goulash is one of my ultimate comfort foods, it always makes me feel warm and cozy. I loved that this was all one pot to make for easy clean up and it was ready in a half hour. A great dinner for busy nights.
I agree! Easy clean up for the win :)
I have looked around for years for a recipe that was like my grandma’s recipe and I finally found it! Thanks
Thank you! I’m glad you came across this recipe :)
This is on our regular rotation here- my family loves it!
This is a new comfort food! So grateful that this goulash is so simple and easy to make, I could have them in just 30 minutes whenever I want.
Very true Granny an Mom recipe
Delicious! I used no yolk noodles because that’s what I had. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed the goulash recipe :)
So yummy!! I had no idea what Goulash was before, but now having tried it…obsessed! So cozy for Fall!
Isn’t it delicious? Definitely the perfect fall comfort meal. So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Rachelle :)
Yes of course
I should have added more flavor because it was really bland.
We like spicy but I didn’t add it thinking this would bring out full flavor.
Any suggestions for next time.
I will make again in few weeks.
This time I won’t add just plain stewed tomatoes or Italian stewed tomatoes.
I will add Mexican stewed tomatoes and green chili together.
It’s okay for some that don’t like it hot..
I just need to switch it up with being from Albuquerque I knew better than to make it without spicy seasoning.
Hi Sylvia, for additional spice you can try adding in some hot sauce or red pepper flakes. Fire roasted tomatoes (instead of regular diced tomatoes) are another good option.
Thank you I will do that next time let you know how it turned out.
Thanks for sharing your recipe.
I made this recipe tonight and it was sooo good!!!! I will make this again for my family. I had leftover sloppy joe meat and used this for the meat. It turned out fantastic.
What a great way to use leftovers! So happy to hear your family loved the recipe, Lisa :)
Great idea!
I love this recipe! My son lives about 3 1/2 hours away and works a lot he called home last night and wants me to make some up and send it home with his fiancé. The only thing I do different is I add black olives and of course a big dollop of sour cream on top.
So happy to hear you and your son both love this recipe! :)