This American goulash is the comforting one-pot dinner that saves my weeknights. Ground beef, elbow macaroni, and tomatoes simmer together into this hearty meal with cheesy goodness. Takes about 30 minutes total. I make American goulash whenever I need a recipe that feeds my whole family without dirtying every pot in the kitchen.
Why You'll Love This American Goulash Recipe
Real talk, this American goulash recipe is one of the easiest comfort food dinners I've made and my kids devour it every single time.
What Actually Works: This American goulash recipe browns ground beef with onions and garlic, then simmers everything with tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, elbow macaroni, and Italian seasoning in one pot until the pasta is tender. Simple ingredients, about 30 minutes from start to finish. Tastes like an old fashioned goulash ground beef recipe but requires no draining pasta or juggling multiple pans.
My husband who grew up on his grandma's goulash recipe says this American goulash tastes just like hers. It looks impressive enough for potluck dinners but is so simple that even exhausted weeknight cooking feels manageable. People always assume there's some complicated technique involved when really it's just how to make old fashioned goulash the easy way with pantry staples.
The thing that changed everything: Understanding that you need to add liquid gradually and not overcook the pasta for American goulash. My first attempt I dumped all the liquid in at once and let it boil hard because I thought faster meant better. The pasta turned to mush and stuck to the bottom of the pot while the top stayed soupy. Some bites were overcooked and mushy while others were crunchy and undercooked in the middle.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This American Goulash Recipe
- What You'll Need for American Goulash
- How to Make American Goulash
- Top Tip
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Storage and Reuse Instructions
- What to Serve With American Goulash
- My American Goulash Journey
- FAQ
- More Recipes You'll Love
- American Goulash
- Related
- Pairing
What You'll Need for American Goulash
Basic ingredients you probably already have. This is the easiest goulash recipe American style you'll make this month.
For the American Goulash
- Ground beef
- Elbow macaroni
- Diced tomatoes
- Tomato sauce
- Onion
- Garlic
- Beef broth
- Italian seasoning
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- Bay leaves
Optional Add-Ins
- Green bell pepper
- Worcestershire sauce
- Red pepper flakes
- Paprika
- Fresh parsley
- Parmesan cheese
Exact measurements in the Recipe card.
How to Make American Goulash
This American goulash recipe comes together in about 30 minutes. The technique is simple but makes all the difference.
Step 1: Brown the Beef
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium high heat and add diced onion, cooking until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Crumble in ground beef and cook until no pink remains, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. The beef should be fully browned with crispy bits forming on the bottom for maximum flavor in your goulash American style.
Step 2: Add Aromatics and Seasonings
Stir in minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant without letting it burn. Add Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and bay leaves, stirring everything to coat the beef in seasonings. This step for American goulash recipes builds the flavor base that makes the whole dish taste rich and savory instead of bland.
Step 3: Add Tomatoes and Liquid
Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth, stirring to combine and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and let it simmer for 5 minutes so the flavors develop. The liquid for old fashioned hamburger goulash should look rich and tomatoey with the beef distributed throughout.
Step 4: Cook the Macaroni
Add elbow macaroni directly to the pot and stir to submerge the pasta in the liquid. Cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid. The macaroni for American goulash recipe allrecipes style cooks right in the sauce so it soaks up all the beefy tomato flavor instead of tasting plain.
Step 5: Add Cheese and Finish
Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy throughout the goulash. Remove bay leaves and taste, adjusting salt and pepper as needed. The cheese makes this cheesy American goulash rich and satisfying with that classic comfort food appeal everyone loves.
Let the American goulash rest for 5 minutes before serving so it thickens up slightly. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra cheese if desired.
Top Tip
Add liquid gradually and watch your pasta for American goulash:
- That gradual liquid addition is what makes American goulash recipes easy versions actually work
- Made this mistake twice dumping all the liquid in at once
- The pasta cooked unevenly with some pieces mushy and others hard
- The bottom scorched while the top stayed too soupy
- Started adding broth in stages and stirring frequently
- Tested pasta at 12 minutes instead of just cooking the full time
- Suddenly got perfectly tender old fashion goulash recipes easy style
Every bite had tender pasta with thick rich sauce coating everything
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
The base American goulash is perfect but you can customize for different flavors.
Mexican Goulash
Replace Italian seasoning with cumin, chili powder, and paprika, then add black beans and corn to the beef mixture. Top this Mexican goulash with pepper jack cheese, sour cream, and cilantro for taco-inspired comfort food.
Cheesy Old Fashioned Baked Goulash
Transfer the cooked goulash to a baking dish, top with extra shredded cheese and breadcrumbs, then bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. This cheesy old fashioned baked goulash gets a golden crispy top layer while staying creamy underneath.
German Goulash Style
Add paprika, caraway seeds, and a splash of red wine to the tomato mixture for German goulash recipes flavor. Use wider egg noodles instead of elbow macaroni for a more authentic European texture and taste.
Storage and Reuse Instructions
Yeah, American goulash keeps great actually.
Refrigerator: Store leftover American goulash in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of beef broth to loosen it up, or microwave individual portions for 2 minutes.
Freezing: This goulash recipes stove top version freezes well for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely, then freeze in portion-sized containers. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stovetop, adding liquid if needed.
Make Ahead: You can cook the beef mixture through step 3 up to 2 days ahead, then refrigerate and add the pasta when ready to serve. This makes weeknight American goulash recipes even faster to get on the table.
Serving: Serve this best goulash recipes beef style hot from the pot. The cheese is creamiest and the pasta has the best texture when freshly made, though leftovers reheat beautifully.
What to Serve With American Goulash
This old fashioned goulash recipe is hearty enough to be the main dish but pairs great with simple sides.
Classic Options
Garlic bread for soaking up the extra sauce, a simple green salad with ranch dressing, or steamed green beans. The sides keep things light since the cheesy goulash is already filling.
Make It Complete
Serve with buttered corn, coleslaw, or dinner rolls. These additions turn your grandma's goulash recipe into a complete comfort food spread that satisfies everyone at the table.
Fresh Balance
A cucumber tomato salad, Caesar salad, or roasted broccoli adds freshness that balances the rich hamburger goulash recipes flavors. The crisp vegetables contrast nicely with the soft creamy pasta.
My American Goulash Journey
First time I made American goulash I used high heat and dumped everything in at once because I thought it would cook faster. The pasta stuck to the bottom and burned while the top stayed crunchy. Had to scrape the burnt bits off and the whole pot tasted smoky and bitter. My kids refused to eat it.
Tried again using medium low heat and adding ingredients in stages like the recipe said. Suddenly the easy goulash recipes simple method worked perfectly with tender pasta and rich tomato sauce. My son who normally picks at dinner asked for thirds.
Then I skipped stirring because I was busy and figured it would be fine. The bottom layer scorched black while the top stayed undercooked and watery. Started setting a timer to stir every 3 minutes and got evenly cooked Texas goulash recipe allrecipes style that everyone loved.
Now I make this American goulash recipe twice a week because I know the tricks: medium heat, gradual liquid, frequent stirring, and don't rush the process.
Similar Easy One-Pot Dinners Worth Making
Cheesy Beef and Rice Skillet: Ground beef and rice cooked together with tomatoes and melted cheese in one pan for easy cleanup and maximum comfort food satisfaction.
Pasta with Meat Sauce: Simple marinara simmered with ground beef and Italian sausage then tossed with penne for a hearty dinner that tastes like you spent hours cooking.
Beef Stroganoff: Tender beef strips in creamy mushroom sauce served over egg noodles for rich satisfying comfort that comes together in 30 minutes.
These golashes recipes variations all use similar one-pot techniques and deliver that same satisfying comfort food feeling as American goulash.
FAQ
What is the difference between goulash and American goulash?
Traditional Hungarian goulash is a soup-like stew with beef chunks, paprika, and vegetables served over potatoes or dumplings. American goulash is a pasta dish with ground beef, elbow macaroni, and tomato sauce cooked together in one pot. The American goulash recipe uses completely different ingredients and cooking methods than authentic European goulash, though both are hearty comfort foods.
What are the 4 ingredients in goulash?
The 4 main ingredients in American goulash are ground beef, elbow macaroni, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Traditional goulash American style also includes onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, and cheese. The old fashion goulash recipe keeps it simple with these basic pantry staples that most families already have on hand.
What is American goulash?
American goulash is a one-pot pasta dish made with ground beef, elbow macaroni, and tomato sauce simmered together until the pasta is tender. This American goulash recipes easy version has nothing to do with Hungarian goulash despite sharing the name. It's comfort food that became popular in the mid-1900s as an affordable family dinner using simple ingredients.
Is American goulash kid friendly?
Yes, American goulash is extremely kid friendly because it tastes like a cheesier version of pasta with meat sauce. The American goulash with shells or elbow macaroni has familiar flavors kids already love without any spicy or unusual ingredients. Most children enjoy this best ever American goulash because it's mild, cheesy, and fun to eat with the small pasta shapes.
More Recipes You'll Love
Once you've nailed this American goulash recipe, try my Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe for another hearty dinner with ground beef and rice baked into tender peppers. My Buffalo Chicken Wraps come together in 20 minutes with spicy chicken and ranch for easy lunches. And my Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken turns ordinary chicken breasts into sweet and savory magic that disappears fast.
American Goulash
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat and add diced onion, cooking until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes so the onion sweetens.
- Crumble in ground beef and cook until no pink remains, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon until fully browned.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant, then add Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and bay leaves, stirring to coat the beef in seasonings.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth, stirring to combine and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and let it simmer for 5 minutes so the flavors develop and meld together.
- Add elbow macaroni directly to the pot and stir to submerge the pasta in the liquid, making sure all pieces are covered.
- Cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy throughout the goulash, creating a rich sauce.
- Remove bay leaves and taste, adjusting salt and pepper as needed, then let rest 5 minutes before serving so it thickens slightly.
Nutrition
Notes
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with American Goulash Recipe:
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