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★ Why You’ll Love this Recipe ★
Old-Fashioned American Goulash
American goulash is one of those nostalgic recipes that brings back fond memories for so many. This timeless, old-fashioned dinner has been feeding families for generations and is still an easy, budget-friendly way to serve a hearty meal to a family or crowd.
This particular Goulash recipe is flavorful featuring ground beef, bell peppers, onions, Worcestershire sauce and spices. I often hear that it tastes like the goulash they remember from their childhood.
Easy Ground Beef Dinner
Simple ingredients and just 30 minutes make this an easy ground beef dinner for busy weeknights. Beef, pasta and vegetables all come together in one filling family meal.
Make It in One Pot
Cook the macaroni right in the sauce for an easy one-pot goulash with minimal cleanup. Or, cook the pasta separately for more control over the texture, then stir it into the beef and tomato sauce.
Budget-Friendly and Great for a Crowd
American goulash is an inexpensive way to stretch a pound of ground beef into a hearty and balanced meal. Make a big batch for a family dinner, to feed a crowd or save the leftovers for lunch.
Serve this American Goulash with a simple 5-ingredient cranberry-apple salad, homemade dinner rolls and a Twinkie bundt cake for dessert!
★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
Traditionally, and with this recipe, here's what you'll find in American Goulash:
- Elbow macaroni. The classic pasta for American goulash. The curved noodles hold onto the beefy tomato sauce, but another short pasta shape will work too.
- Ground beef. Makes this goulash hearty, filling and budget-friendly. Lean ground beef works well.
- Bell peppers. A classic goulash ingredient that adds subtle sweetness and helps distinguish the flavor from spaghetti with meat sauce.
- Onion and garlic. Add savory flavor to the ground beef and tomato sauce.
- Tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Create a rich, saucy base with just a little texture from the diced tomatoes.
- Worcestershire sauce. Adds savory depth and enhances the beef flavor.
- Sugar. A small amount balances the acidity of the tomatoes and peppers, just like Grandma used to make it.
- Olive oil. Adds richness and helps give the tomato sauce a smooth finish.
Optional Ingredients
Customize your American goulash with any of these easy additions:
- Italian herbs — add dried or fresh herbs for more flavor. Try paprika, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and/or oregano.
- Bay leaves — simmer 2–3 in the sauce for added flavor, then remove before serving.
- Beef bouillon — add 1 teaspoon for more rich beef flavor.
- Beef broth — add up to ½ cup if you prefer a thinner sauce.
Topping ideas: Try Parmesan cheese, black olives or artichokes.
★ How to Make this Recipe ★
American goulash comes together in just a few simple steps, with the option to make it all in one pot.
- Cook macaroni, drain and set aside.
- Add ground beef to the same pot.
- Add bell pepper and onion; cook until beef is browned.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add sauce ingredients and cooked macaroni.
- Stir to combine and heat through.
Serve and add any optional toppings, as desired!
★ Tips & FAQs ★
American goulash is a pasta dish made with ground beef, elbow macaroni and tomato sauce. Hungarian goulash is traditionally more like a beef stew or soup, made with chunks of beef and seasoned with paprika. American goulash is also sometimes called American chop suey.
Did you grow up eating American Goulash for dinner? Comment below with where you're from and what you called this dish growing up.
Yes. Ground turkey or lean ground beef can be used for a lighter version of American goulash.
If you're looking to make this dish healthier, try a protein or plant-based pasta. This will reduce carbs and add protein and/or vitamins.
Yes. For one-pot American goulash, cook the ground beef, peppers, onion and garlic first. Add the sauce ingredients, uncooked macaroni and 1½ cups of water, then simmer for 15–20 minutes or until the macaroni is tender. Add a little tomato paste if you prefer a thicker sauce.
Yes. Elbow macaroni is traditional, but another short pasta such as shells, rotini or small penne will work too.
Store leftover American goulash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–5 days.
Yes. Let the goulash cool, then store it in an airtight freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
★ More Beef Dinner Recipes ★
Want even more dinner ideas?
- Browse all my easy beef dinner recipes.
- Browse all my easy dinner recipes and Pin your favorites!
This easy recipe for Old Fashioned Ground Beef Goulash was featured on South Your Mouth and Menu Plan Monday.
American Goulash
Equipment
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 oz elbow pasta
Beef and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 bell pepper any color, seeded and diced
- 1 onion diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste
Sauce
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 14.5 oz petite diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes for smoother sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar more or less to taste
- ½ teaspoon salt more or less to taste
Optional Toppings
- grated Parmesan cheese
- red pepper flakes
- Italian spices
- olives
- artichokes
Easy-Order Groceries
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Instructions
- Cook pasta. In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook elbow macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Cook beef with vegetables. Set the dutch oven to medium-high heat and add ground beef, diced bell peppers and onion. Cook until ground beef is brown and peppers and onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Add garlic paste and cook for an additional minute.
- Add pasta and sauce. Add cooked pasta, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, sugar and salt to taste. Stir to combine and heat through.
- Serve. Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, Italian spices, olives and/or artichokes are optional toppings.
Barb says
I had leftover browned ground beef so i just threw everything into a pot and added about 2 c beef broth and cooked until the macaroni was tender. So delicious. Will definitely make again.
Rose Pickett says
My mom used to make goulash and I always loved it. This is the closest recipe I found to hers (she never wrote any of her recipes down). I do remember that she would only partially cooked the macaroni so that it would absorb the flavor of the tomatoes. I enjoy a bowl of this and make goulash and peanut butter sandwiches (which my family thought was weird)
Christine says
Growing up in Connecticut, my mother could not really cook, but she tried. One of my favorite dishes that she made was this style goulash, which she called “American chop suey”. That shows you that anyone can make this and it always tastes great! I add sausage to spice it up, as well as grated cheese. Note to read the beginning notes about adding sugar and olive oil. They do make a nice difference but are not listed in the recipe for some reason.
Lynda Mae Chavez says
both are mentioned in the recipe
Dougla Chiles says
Very simple and delicious
Donnie says
My mother made meals like this when I was young living at home. She made these goulashis and oh was they good. I am now 59 yrs old and getting ready to make this recipe. Its good with a can of corn and or carrots. I am fixing to bring back some great memories about my mother.
Love you mom ⚘⚘⚘
Rodger says
I grew up eating this in Wisconsin. We raised our own beef and canned tomatoes from our farm garden. Truly a delightful comfort food!
Angela G. says
That sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing your memory of this dish.