Goulash (American Style) Recipe

By Becky Hardin

Updated Jun 10, 2025

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If there is one recipe my kids request that I make time and time again, it’s this family-friendly pasta. This Goulash Recipe is a hearty mix of ground beef, macaroni, and tomato sauce. I cook it all in one pot for a quick and easy dinner the whole family loves.

When I need a quick, hearty meal that I know everyone will love, I turn to this Goulash recipe. This easy goulash has over 500 5-star reviews. I’m proud that so many people around the world have made it and decided they loved it enough to let me know. I hope your family loves it as much as ours.

When I want more veggies, I mix in carrots, potatoes, and other hearty veggies, and the kids scarf them down without even noticing. I always par-cook them so they are slightly tender, then add them in with the rest of the ingredients.

Recipe Card

Easy Goulash Recipe (American Style)

4.67 from 656 votes

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 35 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 4 bowls

Author: Becky Hardin

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Ground beef, tomatoes, and noodles make a delicious comfort food dinner you can make any night of the week in this American Goulash recipe.

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

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Equipment

• Dutch Oven

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ ¾ pound ground beef ground turkey, chicken, or pork, or ground veal or bison also work
• ▢ ½ yellow onion diced
• ▢ 2 cups low sodium beef broth chicken and vegetable also work
• ▢ 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes (1 can)
• ▢ 1 cup marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
• ▢ 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional, for a sweeter sauce
• ▢ 1 bay leaf
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
• ▢ 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground paprika
• ▢ ½ teaspoon seasoned salt or to taste
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
• ▢ 1 cup dry elbow macaroni any short or tubular pasta works
• ▢ ½ cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese optional
• ▢ chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish

Instructions 

• In a Dutch oven, cook the ground beef and onion together until the onion softens and the meat cooks through, about 3-5 minutes.
  ¾ pound ground beef, ½ yellow onion
• Drain any grease.
• Add the beef broth, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, soy sauce, garlic powder, paprika, seasoned salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
  2 cups low sodium beef broth, 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, 1 cup marinara sauce, 1 bay leaf, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon seasoned salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• Turn heat down to medium low and simmer for 5 or 10 minutes, covered.
• Add the elbow macaroni and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender, about 12-15 minutes. Don’t overcook.
  1 cup dry elbow macaroni
• Remove the bay leaves and adjust the seasonings to taste.
• Add the shredded cheese, optional. If you are using a Dutch oven, you can pop it in the oven and melt and brown the cheese if desired.
  ½ cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Garnish the finished dish with chopped parsley, optional.
  chopped fresh parsley

Becky’s Tips

• When the goulash is warm, it will resemble soup, but it will thicken as it cools.
• Cook the goulash in a Dutch oven or heavy-based pot. This will distribute the heat more evenly, so you are less likely to get hot spots, which can burn the bottom.

Serving: 1bowlCalories: 435kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 28gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 1191mgPotassium: 1017mgFiber: 4gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 670IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 185mgIron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Goulash American Style Step by Step

Cook the meat: In a Dutch oven, cook 3/4 pound of ground beef and 1/2 an onion together until the onion softens and the meat cooks through, about 3-5 minutes. Drain any grease.

Add the seasoning: Add 2 cups low sodium beef broth, 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, 1 cup marinara sauce, 1 bay leaf, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon seasoned salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper. Bring to a boil.

Simmer: Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for 5 or 10 minutes, covered.

Add the pasta: Add 1 cup of elbow macaroni and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender, about 12-15 minutes. Don’t overcook. Remove the bay leaves and adjust the seasonings to taste.

Add cheese: Add 1/2 cup shredded cheese, optional. If you are using a Dutch oven, you can pop it in the oven and melt and brown the cheese if desired.

Garnish, serve, and enjoy: Garnish the finished dish with chopped parsley, optional.

How to Store

I store leftover goulash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When ready to serve, reheat on the stove over medium-low heat or in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through.

Let the goulash cool completely before transferring it to Ziplock bags or an airtight container. It will keep well for 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

This hearty American Chop Suey makes a great dinner by itself, but I find it also pairs well with Southern classic cornbread, everyday dinner rolls, or any kind of bread you like for a bit of scooping and dipping. My kids love it best when I serve it with a side of fluffy mashed potatoes or cheesy au gratin potatoes.

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