This hardy American Goulash Recipe is one of my kids’ favorites. It is a classic dish from our childhoods similar to Hamburger Helper, with ground beef and elbow macaroni cooked in a savory tomato sauce and topped with cheese. It’s so easy to make this comforting one-pot meal.
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What is American Goulash?
American Goulash has many names, depending on the region you’re from – Slumgullion, American Chop Suey, Johnny Marzetti, and even Beefaroni. Regardless of what you call it, we can all agree it’s an American treasure of hardy tomato sauce with ground beef, and the pasta is cooked right in the sauce to soak up all those delicious, cozy flavors.
Goulash is a great way to stretch a pound of ground beef to feed a crowd, especially when you want something warm and satisfying. It’s a staple in so many homes just like Sloppy Joes, Beef Stew, and Chicken Noodle Soup. It hits the spot when you’re craving something less fussy but with all the best flavors.
American Goulash Video
See how Natasha turns common pantry staples into a saucy, beefy, warm and satisfying pasta dish in one pot. It’s so easy, you can have American Goulash for dinner tonight!
Why This American Goulash Works
- Reheats well – great for meal prep
- Family and Kid-Friendly – my kids practically lick their bowls clean
- Budget-friendly – satisfying dish to serve a crowd with just 1 pound of meat
- Simple Ingredients – you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry and it comes together in one pot
- Nutritious – great recipe to sneak in extra veggies
- Nostalgic – it must be good if generations of grandmas and moms have served this dish!
Ingredients
It couldn’t be easier to make this homemade hamburger helper recipe with food right from your pantry and refrigerator. You’ll find this recipe is so forgiving and there are plenty of substitution options below.
- Ground beef – We prefer 90/10 lean ground beef so the dish doesn’t get too greasy, or you can drain some of the fat after browning the meat
- Onion, carrot, celery and garlic – this aromatic blend of veggies is the base to great flavor. Cut these finely enough and they disappear in the dish
- Seasonings – The simple combination of dried oregano, salt and black pepper enhances the flavor of the sauce
- Sugar – helps to balance the tomato acidity
- Tomatoes – combining canned crushed tomatoes and double-concentrated tomato paste amplifies the flavor of the sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce – check the label for gluten-free if needed, can sub for soy sauce in a pinch
- Chicken stock and water – flavors and cooks the pasta, use homemade chicken stock, beef broth, or even just water
- Macaroni noodles – we use elbows, but you can substitute any small pasta shape or Gluten Free pasta
- Parmesan Cheese – gives the dish a last punch of nutty saltiness.
Substitutions
I love American Goulash because it’s a forgiving recipe where you can use what you have:
- Meat – substitute Italian sausage or ground turkey for the ground beef
- Pasta – any small pasta works—elbows, bowties, small shells, ditalini, or ziti. Also try whole-wheat, gluten-free, or veggie pasta to make it low-carb. Adjust the amount of water as needed.
- Veggies – add diced veggies in with the onions, such as mushrooms, jalapeños, riced cauliflower, or bell peppers. Or add lighter veggies at the end until warmed through: spinach, frozen corn, frozen peas or even pitted olives
- Beans – stir in a drained can of kidney beans or black beans after the pasta cooks until warmed through
- Spices – sub the oregano for chili powder (and cheddar cheese) for something similar to Chili Mac, or add thyme, red pepper flakes, bay leaves, or Tabasco for a bit of heat
- Cheese – swap parmesan for any shredded cheese you’d like, like mozzarella, cheddar cheese, Mexican mix, or havarti
How to Make American Goulash
This American Goulash recipe is the ultimate comfort food and comes together in one pot. It’s a quick and easy weeknight meal.
- Cook ground beef in a large Dutch oven or pot with 1 Tbsp of oil for 1 minute.
- Stir in the celery, carrot, onion and garlic and sautee until the veggies are softened and beef is browned, 5 minutes.
- Season with salt, oregano, pepper, and sugar.
- Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire, chicken stock, and water. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add macaroni, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until the pasta is cooked through, stirring especially towards the beginning to ensure the pasta doesn’t stick to the pot. Add water as needed if the mixture seems dry.
- Add parmesan cheese and serve with more cheese sprinkled over the top.
Pro Tip:
Depending on the type of pasta you use, add more water as needed if the pasta seems dry. If you make this ahead, be sure not to overcook the pasta, since overcooked pasta can get mushy and dry when reheated.
What’s the difference between Hungarian and American Goulash?
Both Goulashes are rustic, hardy dishes designed to feed a hungry crowd. The two dishes are quite different in ingredients and flavor so they are easy to differentiate:
- American Goulash is a comforting combination of ground beef, macaroni pasta, and tomatoes with a blend of spices that comes together in one pot. It cooks in under an hour.
- Hungarian Goulash is more of a stew with chunks of beef and vegetables simmered in a paprika broth for hours. It’s typically served over noodles or dumplings.
What to Serve with American Goulash
American Chop Suey is typically served along with a slice of buttered toast, which definitely keeps in line with the nostalgic recipe, but we like to serve it with crusty bread to soak up the tomato sauce along with roasted veggies or salad. Here are some ideas:
- Easy Garlic Bread
- Fluffy Dinner Rolls
- Crusty French Bread
- Easy Roasted Carrots
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Caesar Salad
- Garden Salad
Make-Ahead
American Goulash is meal-prep friendly and perfect for school lunch in a thermos.
- To Refrigerate: Cool and store in an airtight container for 3-4 days (this is the USDA recommendation for using cooked beef)
- Freezing: Cool and store in an airtight container or large freezer zip-top bag for up to three months
- To Reheat: thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the microwave or a saucepan until heated through. If it looks dry, add a splash of water to keep the pasta saucy.
American Goulash is the perfect saucy, satisfying dish for cold weekday nights when you’re looking for something cozy but quick to make. This recipe will quickly become your go-to recipe for feeding your hungry family.
More One-Pot Meals
If you love this American Goulash recipe, you’ll love these popular easy dinner ideas:
- Vegetable Beef Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Clam Chowder
- Turkey Chili
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
- Chicken Fried Rice
American Goulash Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef 90/10
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1 celery stick, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
- 1 tsp dried oregano leaves
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp granulated sugar, or more to taste
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup water plus more as needed for cooking
- 2 cups macaroni pasta, 10 oz, or any small pasta you prefer
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more to serve
Instructions
- Set a heavy pot or 5 1/2 Qt Dutch oven over medium/high heat and add 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add ground beef to the hot pot and break it up with a spatula for 1 minute.
- Add carrot, onion, celery and garlic and stir until vegetables are softened, 5 minutes. Season with salt, oregano, pepper and sugar and stir to combine.
- Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock and water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add macaroni and stir to combine. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, especially towards the beginning of cooking pasts so it doesn’t settle and get stuck to the bottom of the pot. Add more hot water 1/4 cup at a time or as needed if the mixture seems dry. It should remain very moist and saucy.
- Stir in parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste if needed. Serve with more parmesan.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Wow! So easy and so good. A similar recipe in Switzerland is called „Gehacktes mit Hörnli“, but we cook the Hörnli separat. It‘s also similar like Spaghetti Bolognese. Thanks for this great recipe.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Susi!
What a hearty and comforting meal on a cold winter evening! I absolutely love that it used simple pantry staples and came together in one pot, can’t wait to eat the leftovers tonight!
Just made this and it’s a winner. Husband said, “this is pure comfort food, right here.” We are living in Latvia right now and we are able to find many of your recipe ingredients. I could not find Worcesteshire today, but soy sauce worked great. I added 1 1/2 more tablespoons of tomato paste and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes. You need the 20 minutes for the sauce to simmer as it thickens and is wonderful. Thank you, Natasha!!
we live overseas too (Lisbon) and alot of time Worcestershire sauce is called English Sauce, not sure why but maybe it is called that there too…
Wow! Talk about delicious. My girlfriend is a very picky eater. And she loved it. I am definitely saving this recipe. Thanks for a great meal!!
Pasta sauce DOES NOT need added sugar. There is enough sweetness coming from the carrots to balance out the acid. Americans get enough sugar snuck into their diets as it is (spoken from experience as an American). Otherwise, this recipe is awesome and would get 5 stars from me.
It’s a quarter teaspoon in the entire recipe, that’s a little more than a pinch to balance the acid which a carrot doesn’t always do, depending on the tomatoes. Simmer down.
I made this a few years ago and it was a major hit at my house!
Thank you Natasha
You’re my go to.
I’m making this again today.
That’s so great! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Jeanine!
A new family favourite! I needed something new to try with ground beef, and your site is always my first place to look for recipes. This was so easy and so, so good! It doubles well to have extra for the freezer. I served it with cheddar beer bread & a side salad. Thanks for another delicious recipe!
Hello Laura, thank you for always trusting in my recipes. I’m happy that this recipe is your family’s favorite!
Are you suppose to drain the fat from the beef before adding the sauce?
Ty
Hi Domninic! I do not drain the meat.
Just made this this afternoon almost exactly as the recipes states…except, instead of carrots and celery, I used one red and one yellow bell pepper. Soo good!
Wow! This is fire! And so easy to make. I used tomatoes we canned and homemade chicken bone broth. This is definitely a keeper.
I’m so glad to hear that!
This turned out amazing! Your website is the first place I look for recipes. Thank you, Natasha. ❤️
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, I’m so happy this is your go to site. I’m all smiles, Nancy!
Made this last night for dinner and it was SOOO comforting and good. It was raining and cold outside and it was the perfect meal! My son even had more today for lunch! Thanks so much for another great recipe! You always have the best ones – keep it up!!
You’re very welcome, Robin! Thank you!
Natasha, I can always count on your recipes. This was delicious! I’m about to make it for the second time, and my girls are super excited. Thank you for another great recipe!
You’re very welcome, Sara!
I’ve been making a family goulash recipe for over 50 years but thought I’d give this one a try. We loved it! This was so tasty, juicy and easier to make. The pasta cooks right in the pan! Also happy to have left overs for a second meal! Delicious!
Thank you for trying my recipe, Chris!
Hi Natasha, growing up “goulash” was a regular in our home as there were 5 kids and this I’m sure was budget friendly ;). Our recipe is more chili flavored ( chili pepper, cumi, cheddar cheese etc) and we called it chili mac. So good
I made the Goulash tonight & it was so yummy! It was easy peasy. Will be making this again. Thanks Natasha for another awesome recipe 😊
You’re so welcome, Nicole! Happy to know that your loved our Goulash Recipe!
Nicole
I made the Goulash tonight. It was so delicious! Thanks Natasha for another awesome recipe
You’re welcom! I’m glad to her that you enjoyed my Goulash Recipe!
Hi Natasha, I made this recipe for dinner tonight and it was a big hit! So easy and absolutely delicious. Thank you!
Yay that’s wonderful! Thanks a lot for this review and feedback, Wendi.
I haven’t tried this recipe, yet. But I’m going to make it this week. My mother made a version of this that included a chopped green pepper. What do you think of that idea?
Hi Barbara! I’ve seen several comments from my viewers about adding green peppers. I think it would be great. I hope you love the recipe.
I needed an easy recipe for dinner tonight and I made this. The only change I made was leaving out the celery as I am allergic. It came together quickly and was very tasty. Thanks! ❤️
I’m so glad you loved it, Amy! Thank you for sharing.