by Holly
This Easy Goulash Recipe is full of flavor and the perfect way to feed a crowd as it makes a huge batch! A simple skillet dinner with tomatoes, beef and macaroni noodles in a zesty tomato sauce creates the perfect comfort food on a budget!
Serve it alongside some cornbread, and add more or less liquid to make it the perfect consistency!
American Goulash – Easy and Delicious
Call it American Goulash, call it American Chop Suey… it doesn’t matter what you call it, you’ll just want to call it tonight’s dinner! This is a delicious and easy meal that the whole family loves!
Beefy Macaroni with a savory yet simple seasoned tomato sauce! I’ve been making this amazing goulash recipe for years, not only does it taste great but it’s a really quick and inexpensive way to feed a crowd (and so much easier to put together than lasagna!)
What is Goulash?
American Goulash is not the same thing as goulash in other parts of the world are not the same thing! This is NOT the same dish as a traditional Hungarian Goulash. Hungarian Goulash is made with chunks of meat, peppers, paprika and other spices to create a traditional soup.
This particular version is often called Goulash or even American Chop Suey. It’s similar to a Chili Mac but is more of a tomato sauce flavor (and I skip the chili powder).
When to Add the Macaroni
- Thicken the sauce: I personally prefer a nice thick goulash so I usually let the meat sauce boil down for a little bit before adding the macaroni.
- Add Your Favorites: This american goulash recipe is versatile and you can easily add whatever you like. Extra veggies like mushrooms or shredded zucchini, swap out ground beef for other ground meats add extra Italian Seasoning or Chili Powder.
- Add the Macaroni: If you’re short on time (or prefer your goulash a little bit of a soupier texture) you can certainly just add the macaroni in right away.
- Top With Cheese: I top this with sharp cheddar to make a cheesy goulash that my kids can’t get enough of! Any kind of cheese will work. If you’d prefer, put it under the broiler for a few minutes until bubbly.
More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
- CrockPot Goulash – super easy!
- Chicken Parmesan Casserole – Quick take on an Italian Favorite!
- Classic Stuffed Shells – Filled with cheese and baked until bubbly.
- Baked Rigatoni Pasta – Easy family favorite (can make ahead)
- Easy Lasagna – Made in just one pot!
What To Serve With Goulash
We serve it up with some 30 Minute Dinner Rolls and a fresh Italian salad for a complete meal! To make it extra yummy, serve it topped with a little bit of sour cream!
The great thing about this goulash recipe is that it’s one of those dishes that tastes just as good the next day (or even better). It keeps well in the fridge for a few days but it also freezes perfectly for lunches or meals later in the week!
Can You Freeze Goulash
You can! Goulash will generally freeze pretty well, apart from the pasta. Once reheated, pasta will often become mushy and overcooked.
If you plan to make a big batch of American goulash to freeze some, cook the pasta separately and add it in as you serve the portions.
Grandma's Goulash
Prep Time 20 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Course Main Course
Cuisine AmericanIngredients
- 2 onions chopped
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 jar tomato based pasta sauce approx. 26 oz.
- 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can 6 oz tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 cups water
- 1 green bell pepper optional
- salt & black pepper to taste
- 2 cups macaroni noodles uncooked
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook ground beef, onion and garlic over medium high heat until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
- Add pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water, seasonings, bay leaves and green pepper. Simmer covered for 15 minutes.
- Add in the in the macaroni and continue to simmer, covered, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender (about 20 minutes).
- Remove & discard bay leaves. Top with cheese and replace the lid. Let sit about 5 minutes or until melted.
