This easy homemade goulash recipe is a family-favorite made in one pot with ground beef, noodles and a flavorful tomato sauce. It’s a classic comfort food dish ready in 30 minutes!
More one pot recipes that we love include homemade hamburger helper and easy hamburger casserole.
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American Goulash Recipe
This American goulash is easy to make in one pan for a quick 30-minute meal. It’s one of our favorite ground beef recipes and it tastes just like one my mom used to make. Salisbury steak was another childhood favorite.
Just like million dollar spaghetti casserole and tater tot casserole this easy goulash recipe is a budget-friendly classic! I love that you don’t have to cook the noodles in a separate pan like my spaghetti bolognese. These one pot burrito bowls are another simple one-pot dinner!
What is Goulash?
There are two types: Hungarian goulash and American goulash. Goulash originated in Hungary and is traditionally a hearty stew that consisted of cubes of meat, vegetables and spices (usually including paprika). The Hungarian version is definitely still loved by many, however this is an Americanized version.
American goulash has more of a tomato base and typically includes ground beef and macaroni noodles as well. My version of this recipe is considered an American goulash.
Key Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Ground beef: This meat is the base of the recipe and adds great flavor to the dish. I like to use 80/20. You can substitute ground turkey if desired.
- Elbow macaroni noodles: If you don’t have these on hand you can use another small noodle like small shells or ditalini.
- Beef broth: You can also use a vegetable or chicken broth if that’s all you have on hand.
- Tomatoes: This recipes uses tomato sauce along with petite diced tomatoes.
- Vegetables: I like to add in onion, bell pepper and corn.
- Seasonings: Lots of great seasonings to add great flavor to this goulash recipe.
How to Make Goulash
- SAUTE. In a skillet cook the beef, onion and peppers in large pot or dutch oven until brown (about 3-5 minutes) over medium-high heat. Drain the grease, then add in garlic, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt and Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 1-2 more minutes.
- SIMMER. Stir in diced tomatoes, corn, broth and tomato sauce and bring to light simmer. Then add in noodles, stir and cover with lid.
- COOK. Continue to cook for 10-12 minutes, or until noodles are tender.
- TOP. Salt and pepper to taste. If desired, sprinkle with cheese and cover for about 1 minute, until cheese has melted. Then top with fresh basil or parsley.
TIP: Stir goulash every couple of minutes so that the noodles don’t stick!
Crockpot Version
You can easily make this recipe in the slow cooker if you prefer. I recommend cooking the ground beef ahead of time, then add all the ingredients to your crockpot and stir. Cook on high for 1 to 2 hours or low for 3 to 4.
Add the noodles the last 30 minutes of cooking and cook until noodles are tender. Remove lid and sprinkle on cheese. Cover with lid for about 1 minute, until cheese has melted. Then add fresh basil if desired and serve!
Tips and Variations
- Leaner: Use ground turkey in place of the ground beef to make this a leaner meal.
- Extra veggies: Peas, green beans, shredded carrots, or chopped celery or mushrooms can be added.
- Creamier: Add up to a cup of sour cream at the end.
- Soupy: If you would like it a little more of a soup consistency add an extra cup of broth, water, or tomato sauce.
- Heat: Add a sprinkle of chili flakes.
- Instant Pot goulash: An easier hands off way to make this favorite!
Storing + Freezing
- To store: Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. To reheat, simply microwave or heat on stove until warmed throughout.
- To freeze: Place in an 8×8″ metal tin and wrap with foil. Then place tin inside a ziptop bag and add a freezer label with the date. When ready to eat, place in the refrigerator to thaw overnight and then cook at 350°F for 30-45 minutes, or until hot. You could also top with more cheese before baking.
5 star review
“This is a recipe I’ve gone to several times. It is everything it promises, fast, easy, and delicious. Finally, if you don’t have something this recipe is forgiving and adapts easily to anything you have on hand. My picky family always gobbles it right up.”
-Leigh
Frequently Asked Questions
Classic American goulash is a main dish made of ground beef, onion, bell pepper, macaroni noodles, tomato sauce and seasonings.
I prefer to make it with ground beef, but you could also use ground turkey, ground chicken or ground sausage.
American goulash is made with ground beef where Hungarian goulash is made with beef cubes and simmered in a broth seasoned with paprika.
We love to serve this goulash recipe with a chopped salad and artisan bread or garlic bread. Another great side dish is roasted vegetables.
Yes, this dish is great made ahead of time. It also makes great leftovers. I love to place the leftovers in a small baking dish and sprinkle with cheese. Then bake at 350°F until hot and bubbly.
Need more comfort food dinners? Try this turkey sloppy joe recipe, beef stew or cabbage soup.
More Easy 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!
Made this recipe turned out great added a dash of soy sauce, didn’t have the required amount of tomato sauce only a small can so I added an of extra can of petite diced tomatoes recipe came great,the corn in it was good but next time I could leave it out and it would be just as good, my husband says maybe we would add celery instead.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
My family loves this
Cooked this last night. My husband loved it. He is very pickey eater. Thank you for putting your recipes on the web. I have been looking for 1 pot meals. We both work, so I will make some of the meals and freeze them. Makes dinner so easy when we get home.
I’m so glad you both enjoyed it! One pot recipes are my favorite!
Very yummy
This was so fast, easy and so good! I added just a little cayenne pepper & was amazing! Husband can be picky but he loved it! Will make it often!
this recipe is easy to cook and \ delicious
Loved this recipe. I’ve been wanting to snazz up my own recipe a bit and this fit the bill. I loved the peppers and the seasonings. It was a perfect family dinner on a Sunday night with green peas and some dinner rolls.
Delicious!
I’ll be cooking this for 9 big army soliders who can eat how can i double this recipe. Sorry I’m just learning to cook
Hi Rebecka! This recipe should double well. You will just need to use a really big pot and probably add some cooking time to the noodles!
Hi! Can’t wait to make this. But our family doesn’t like tomatoes. I think we can tolerate ths tomato sauce, but can omit the canned tomatoes? Love your website!
Definitely! If you need more liquid, you could always add a can of tomato juice! :)
I am so excited to have found this web site… Your recipes are the BEST!!!
Thank you.
Pat
Thank you so much! So glad you stopped by!
This says 277 calories, but what is the serving size?
There are 8 servings in this recipe!
I have a question regarding the tomato sauce- are we talking about marinara style sauce or pureed tomatoes here?
Not pasta sauce that you would put over pasta, but there are cans called “tomato sauce” that don’t have any seasoning in them. It’s in the canned tomato section at the grocery store.
I tried this recipe tonight and used ground venison instead of beef also green pepper. Used just one cup of macaroni and baked for 30 minutes before tossing in the cheese. My husband and I both liked it. I t made quite a large batch even with reducing the pasta. Leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
Glad you enjoyed this goulash recipe! The ground venison would be great. :)
I made this 2 nights ago and we loved it! I happen to have everything needed for recipe.
I used bison meat which made it more flavorful!
Thanks for sharing
I’m so glad you enjoyed this! Sounds like a delicious substitution with the bison meat. :)
Do you drain the corn?
You can keep the liquid in the corn since the noodles with cook in the mixture! :)
My whole family loves this meal. We make it all the time.
I’m so glad your family loves this recipe. It is such a comfort dish! :)
made it was delicious!!!!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment and review Kelley! :)