American Goulash Recipe (2024)

Julie Clark

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Have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes with this easy American goulash. This beefy macaroni is loaded with diced tomatoes and tomato sauce….then topped with cheese.

Back when we were first married we made a lot of hamburger helper meals. Whether it was a cheesy macaroni and beef or even a tuna macaroni salad, elbow macs were cheap, so we ate a lot of it!

American Goulash Recipe (2)

What is goulash?

There are two different types of goulash. Hungarian goulash and American goulash. Hungarian goulash is a thick soup with meat and vegetables, usually seasoned with paprika. American goulash is very different. It generally has tomato sauce, macaroni and beef. It’s almost like a homemade hamburger helper.

American goulash is an easy dinner that can be prepped and ready to eat in just around 30 minutes.

What cut of meat is best for goulash?

We use a lean ground beef for this recipe. You could also use ground turkey if you’d like. If you want to spice it up a little, use Italian sausage. Delicious!

American Goulash Recipe (3)

What spices to put in goulash?

You’ll find that every goulash recipe is seasoned just a little differently. Ours has Italian seasoning, soy sauce, a pinch of sugar, salt & pepper and butter. It’s a very simply flavored dish. What other spices can you add to goulash? You can add garlic, bay leaves or even a little dried red pepper flakes for spice.

How do you make goulash with ground beef?

Here are some hints for making this recipe:

  • This is a great way to use up leftover cooked elbow macaroni. If you don’t have any leftovers to use up, cook the noodles the same time you are cooking the beef. Cook the noodles to al dente so they don’t get mushy.
  • Start cooking the ground beef ( we recommend 85% lean) and then when it is halfway done, add the chopped onion to cook along with it.
  • Drain off any fat, then add the tomato sauce and undrained tomatoes.
  • Add the seasonings and then allow the sauce to simmer for about 20 minutes.
  • Once the sauce has simmered, add the cooked elbow macaroni and heat through.
  • We recommend serving this easy dinner with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. You could use parmesan cheese too!

American Goulash Recipe (4)

Can you freeze goulash?

Yes! Make the recipe is it describes in the recipe, then place it in a 9×13 baking pan. Cover it with plastic wrap, then wrap it in foil. Freeze for up to 2 months.

This casserole will reheat best if it is defrosted, so thaw it before you put it in the oven. Bake uncovered at 350º Fahrenheit for about 30-40 minutes until it is heated through. You may want to add a little extra spaghetti sauce and cheese if you are choosing the freezer method.

What goes with American goulash?

We recommend serving this goulash with a side salad and a piece of Italian bread. If you’re looking for a different type of vegetable side dish besides salad, try one of these:

  • Jalapeno Corn Casserole
  • Italian Green Beans
  • Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
  • Sweet Potato Fries
  • Christmas Green Beans

American Goulash Recipe (6)

Other Pasta Dinners

  • One Pot Sausage Pasta
  • Lasagna Noodle Casserole
  • Chicken Tetrazzini
  • Chicken Alfredo Pasta

American Goulash Recipe (7)

American Goulash Recipe (8)

American Goulash Recipe

4.48 from 17 votes

Have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes with this easy American goulash. This beefy macaroni is loaded with diced tomatoes and tomato sauce....then topped with cheese.

Servings 8

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/3 cup diced onion
  • 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 28 ounces canned tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • Pinch sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni (cooked al dente)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Instructions

  • *If you don't already have cooked macaroni, boil the macaroni and cook to al dente while the beef is cooking.*

  • In a skillet over medium heat, brown and crumble the ground beef.

  • Add onion to the skillet when ground beef is about half done, cooking the onion along with the beef.

  • Add the diced tomatoes. Mix well.

  • Add the tomato sauce.Mix well.

  • Add the butter, soy sauce, sugar and Italian seasoning.

  • Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.

  • Add the cooked macaroni and mix well.

  • Top with cheddar if desired and serve immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 469kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 929mg | Potassium: 822mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 730IU | Vitamin C: 16.7mg | Calcium: 173mg | Iron: 4.1mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Calories 469

Keyword beefy macaroni, easy dinner idea, hamburger helper, how to make goulash

Have you tried this recipe?

Share a review below or share on Instagram with the tag #tastesoflizzyt.

American Goulash Recipe (9)

American Goulash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is American goulash made of? ›

Goulash Around The Globe

Hungarian Goulash is a beef and onion soup seasoned with Hungarian paprika and sometimes containing potatoes and/or carrots (often made without vegetables). American Goulash is old-fashioned goodness. It's a simple dish with ground beef and elbow macaroni in tomato sauce.

What do you serve with goulash? ›

Searching for the perfect accompaniment? Try mashed potato, dumplings or your favourite veg.

How do you soften goulash meat? ›

8 simple tips to make meat softer
  1. Utilize the meat tenderizer. A quick and easy method is the use of the meat tenderizer. ...
  2. Cover the meat with coarse salt. ...
  3. Acid marinade. ...
  4. Marinade with fruit puree. ...
  5. Slow cooking in a pan. ...
  6. Grilling. ...
  7. Add the coarse salt halfway through cooking. ...
  8. Use baking soda.

What is the difference between beef stew and beef goulash? ›

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.

What is the difference between 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 the difference between American and traditional goulash? ›

American goulash is a one-pot dish of ground beef, pasta (often elbow macaroni), tomatoes and cheese. Sometimes it includes paprika, like its Hungarian counterpart. Since American goulash calls for ground beef, it cooks much faster than Hungarian goulash which relies on low-and-slow cooking to render the beef tender.

What is goulash called in the South? ›

What Is American Goulash? American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, American Chop Suey, or even Beef-a-Roni, is an American comfort-food dish popular in the Midwest and South. Besides the name, there is no real connection to Hungarian goulash in terms of the flavor or ingredients.

How do you thicken goulash? ›

Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking. Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil. This will cook out the flour taste and allow the starch to swell.

Do you eat the bread in goulash? ›

Real goulash has no tomato paste or beans. Eat with a slice of rustic bread. Dip bread in sauce and clean the plate with the bread at the end.

What are the two types of goulash? ›

Hungarian goulash and American goulash. Hungarian goulash is a thick soup with meat and vegetables, usually seasoned with paprika. American goulash is very different. It generally has tomato sauce, macaroni and beef.

Does vinegar tenderize meat? ›

Acidic ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, yogurt and wine weaken collagen and protein in meat. Once the proteins are broken by acid, one loose protein can bond with another and trap liquid in the meat, making it juicy and tender. Yay!

Is it better to use beef broth or stock for stew? ›

Ideally, you'll use beef stock, but beef broth is fine too. Veal stock would be divine. Instant bouillon paste will add flavor and is perfectly acceptable. Indeed, even if all you have is chicken stock, it will still be better than water and won't make your beef stew taste like chicken soup.

What is technically goulash? ›

Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás) is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.

Why is it called American goulash? ›

American goulash is usually referred to in the midwestern and southern United States as simply "goulash". As a descendant, of sorts, of Hungarian goulash, the only real connection seems to be the name, and the inclusion of beef and paprika.

What is another name for American goulash? ›

American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, American Chop Suey, or even Beef-a-Roni, is an American comfort-food dish popular in the Midwest and South.

Is American chop suey and goulash the same thing? ›

American chop suey is an American pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni and a seasoned tomato sauce, found in the cuisine of New England and other regions of the United States. Outside New England it is sometimes called American goulash or Johnny Marzetti, among other names.

What's the difference between chili and goulash? ›

Chili mac is very similar to American goulash — a one-pot meal made with ground beef, pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese. American goulash, however, doesn't call for evaporated milk, and also isn't made with beans.

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