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.
It really is so easy! But also, delicious!
Doesn’t tell you how much of any ingredients to use in any of the recipes 🤷♀️
Hi Peggy! We have a printable recipe card with the ingredients towards the bottom of our posts. Enjoy!
My husband loves this and talks about how great it is even between the time we have it and the next!
thank you for making my childhood recipes come back to life.
I’m so happy to hear he loves it! Thank you for your comment and review Denise! :)
If you freeze the goulash in the tin pan covered with foil, should it be baked covered or not covered? Thanks.
I bake it covered! :)
It is delicious!!! I used chicken broth because I used lean ground turkey and you honestly couldn’t tell the difference by the time it all “married” ! I did pre-cook my pasta and added it five minutes before serving along with shredded Parmesan so it had a cheesy texture😋
Corn was served on the side…highly recommend this dish, the beauty of it, the basics from scratch are there and they are awesome 👏🏻
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Favorite goulash recipe! Most don’t have enough flavor and depth!! And I didn’t even the right bell peppers and it was still perfect!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
My Husband and I had American Goulash. So easy to make we both love it . Delish 😋 Thank you Denise & Reggie
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
Loved it
Hi there
Would like to try your American goulash recipe with the elbow noodles but while it gives all the ingredients, it says nothing about quantities?? Please can you tell me the quantities of everything that is required? Also – fresh diced tomatoes or diced tomatoes in a tin?
Hi! If you scroll down to the recipe it will have all the ingredients, amounts and instructions listed.
Wonderfully tasty and SO easy! Made this twice already, just as written. We prefer mozzarella and parmesan over your suggestion of cheddar. Served with a salad and crusty, toasted baguette. This recipe will go into my regular rotation. Thanks for the post!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment Renee. :)
Very good. My 15 month old is a picky eater and he ate 2 bowls while saying “yum” after each bite. Only downfall was the pasta got too mushy. How does one ensure noodles don’t get too soft?
I’m glad it was a hit with your picky eater! I would just test the noodles after 8 minutes and cook until they are the right consistency for you. :)
Easy to make and soooo delish, thanks so much!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
Delicious and super easy to make. Exactly how I like food to be.
So glad to hear you enjoyed it! :)
This recipe will came out perfect! I was hesitant to use the corn, I only used half of the can. The corn make a sweet burst of flavor against the savory salty flavors. I will make this again!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review! :)
Good!
I’m happy that you recognised that this is American and not real goulash. It looks good enough but I remember my grandmother back in the old country making authentic Madarsko Goulash. Now that stuff is authentic. I can’t compare anything called “goulash” to real goulash but I’m still willing to give this a try. Who knows, I might like this.
Made it tonight. I live alone and was tired of eating the same old thing. This recipe is definitely a keeper. I didn’t have the soy sauce, but the flavor was fine without it.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
Made it and ate it. Good recipe. Didn’t have any bell peppers, so I used string beans. Tossed in a bit of hot smoked paprika. Deluxe. It is “goulash” after all. Which to me, means anything you have in the fridge.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a comment! :)