Julie Clark
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American Goulash Recipe
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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!
I grew up eating American goulash so it was only natural to share this midwestern comfort food recipe.
What is goulash?
There are two different types of goulash. Hungarian goulash and American goulash, both comfort food! Hungarian goulash is a thick soup with meat and vegetables, usually seasoned with paprika. Classic American goulash is very different. It generally has tomato sauce, macaroni noodles 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.
This dinner is also called a slumgullion recipe and can be made in the Instant Pot.
What cut of meat is best for goulash?
We use a lean ground beef for this easy goulash recipe. You could also use ground turkey if you’d like. If you want to spice it up a little, use Italian sausage. Delicious!
What spices to put in goulash?
You’ll find that every American goulash recipe is seasoned just a little differently for varying flavor. 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 to Make American Goulash
- 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.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the onions and ground beef. 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.
- Drain off any fat, then stir in 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.
Serve this easy macaroni dinner with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. You could use parmesan cheese too!
Recipe Variations
- Use ground pork, ground turkey or ground chicken in place of the beef if you’d like.
- Other add-ins: diced green bell pepper, fresh basil or oregano or minced garlic cloves.
- Add a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce for added flavor.
Storage
Store goulash leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s a great meal prep idea. Eat it for dinner and take the leftovers in your lunchbox.
Can you freeze goulash?
Yes! Make the American goulash 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 American goulash 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 or broccoli, try one of these:
Other Pasta Recipes
- One Pot Sausage Pasta
- Lasagna Noodle Casserole
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Chicken Alfredo Pasta
- Creamy macaroni and cheese
- Amish macaroni salad
You may also love our turkey picadillo or crockpot vegetable beef soup.
American Goulash Recipe
Have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes with this easy American goulash recipe. This beefy macaroni is loaded with diced tomatoes and tomato sauce….then topped with cheese.
Servings 8
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/3 cup diced onion
- 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 28 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- Pinch granulated 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, add the onions and ground beef. 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. 1 pound ground beef, ⅓ cup diced onion
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, butter, soy sauce, sugar and Italian seasoning. Mix well. 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes, 28 ounces canned tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon salted butter, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, Pinch granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, Salt and pepper
- Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
- Add the cooked macaroni and mix well. Top with cheddar if desired and serve immediately. 1 pound elbow macaroni, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Video
Notes
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 8, with 1 serving being ⅛ of the goulash. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. **
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
This was even tastier than I imagined. It didn’t even need the cheese. Next time I will do without. I was worried about 28 ounces of both tomato cans. I used 28 oz of the sauce and 14 oz of the diced and that seemed perfect to me. There’s a lot of pasta to cover.
Very easy and tasty. Great recipe.
Can I use penne pasta instead of elbows
Just checking that these are 28 oz cans of tomatoes and sauce? That seems like a lot of sauce and the photo shows what looks like 14 oz cans. Please advise. Thank you!!
Lovely recipe! When I make it I add finely chopped kale or spinach and some chickpeas or white beans for an extra bit of nutrition, but it’s absolutely perfect just the way it is presented here.
When I make goulash, I brown hamburger, onion and a green pepper. I dump in cooked elbow macaroni, a can of diced tomatoes (if I feel like it) and a large can of tomato juice. People are generally lined up with bowls at this point. I prefer to reduce it a bit, but I’m not gonna lie…. it’s delicious even “soupy”. It’s quick, easy and no fuss, no muss. You can even do it all in one pan. Just throw uncooked pasta in with the juice. I think it makes it too starchy so the taste is a little off… Read more »