American Goulash

byTasty foods recipes •August 23, 2025

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American Goulash is my kind of comfort food! It’s rich, savory, and full of that cozy, tomato-y goodness. It’s hearty, easy to make, and one bite will have you hooked just like my family is!

A Reader’s Review

Perfect. Followed the recipe! Tasted better than my Mom’s! Thank you for sharing.

Teri

How This Goulash Stole My Heart (and Fork)

One-pot: Everything cooks together in a single pot, which means less cleanup and more flavor as the pasta soaks up the rich, seasoned sauce.
Family-friendly: Kids love it, but it’s also packed with hearty, comforting flavor that adults can feel good about!
Freezer-friendly: Perfect for meal prep! Make a batch, freeze it, and enjoy the same rich flavor and texture!

How To Make American Goulash

Making this classic American goulash recipe couldn’t be easier. Cook the beef and onion, and then throw everything together and let it simmer. You’ll have time to make my 1-hour rolls and green goddess salad to have on the side.

Brown the Meat: Add 2 pounds of ground beef to a large stockpot over medium high heat. Cook and brown the beef for 7-8 minutes. Remove the meat from the pot and drain, leaving about 1-2 tablespoons of grease in the pot.
Cook the Onion: Add diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat until tender. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Make Soup Base: Return the cooked beef to the pot. Add water, beef base, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, paprika, black pepper, and bay leaves. Stir to combine, then bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add Noodles & Simmer: Stir in uncooked noodles. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom. Just before serving, stir in cheese. Garnish your goulash with fresh chopped Italian parsley on top before serving!

Ground beef being cooked in the bottom of the pot.

What’s the Difference Between Hungarian and American Goulash?

Hungarian goulash is a hearty stew loaded with meat, vegetables, and plenty of paprika. Hungarian sometimes uses dumplings or potatoes instead of pasta. American goulash skips the extra veggies (aside from the tomato based sauce) and goes all-in with macaroni noodles and cheese. You might also hear it called “American chop suey.”

A pot with American goulash being stirred with a wooden spoon.

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Classic American Goulash

Cozy, hearty, and full of flavor, this American Goulash combines tender pasta, seasoned ground beef, and a rich tomato sauce for the ultimate one-pot comfort food.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword american goulash, american goulash recipe, goulash

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 50

Total Time 1

Servings Servings

Calories 481kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef
1 large diced onion
4 cloves minced garlic
3 cups water
1 tablespoon beef base or bouillon
2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes (one petite diced)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
2 teaspoons paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
3 bay leaves
2 cups elbow macaroni noodles uncooked
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
fresh chopped Italian parsley for garnish

Instructions

Add 2 pounds ground beef to a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Cook and brown the beef for 7-8 minutes. Remove the meat from the pot and drain, leaving about 1-2 tablespoons of grease in the pot.
Add 1 large diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat until tender. Add 4 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Return the cooked beef to the pot. Add 3 cups water, 1 tablespoon beef base, 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce, 2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon seasoned salt, 2 teaspoons paprika, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and 3 bay leaves. Stir to combine, then bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir in 2 cups elbow macaroni noodles. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom.
Just before serving, stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Garnish with fresh chopped Italian parsley on top before serving!

Video

Notes

Leftovers

Fridge: Store cooled goulash in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
Freezer: Freeze in a labeled, airtight container or bag for up to 3 months.
Reheat: From fridge—warm on stove or microwave in 1–2 min intervals. From freezer—thaw overnight, then reheat on stove.