Easy Goulash Recipe

Goulash in a white pot with wooden spoon.

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.

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings:

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

Variation:

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.

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. 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!

Storage: Place any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days. To reheat, simply microwave or heat on stove until warmed throughout.

Freezer instructions: Place any leftovers in a 8×8-inch metal tin and wrap with foil. When ready to eat, place in the refrigerator to thaw overnight and cook at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes, or until hot. Top with cheese before baking.

Nutrition