American goulash (aka American chop suey) is a classic one-pot recipe with ground beef, macaroni noodles, and a savory, cheesy, tomato-based sauce. It’s an easy meal that cooks in just 30 minutes!
An American Classic, Made in 1 Pot!
American-style goulash is a ground beef classic that’s served at church dinners, school lunches, and family gatherings.
Unlike its Hungarian counterpart, which is studded with big chunks of beef and is slow-cooked until it’s more of a stew, this version is made with ground beef and canned tomatoes. Macaroni noodles are thrown in to bulk up the dish, and the finished goulash with melty cheese is an easy, budget-friendly, fast-to-make weeknight dinner that even picky eaters love.
Serve this stick-to-your-ribs goulash with fluffy bread for dipping, and a fresh side salad if you’re feeling healthy.
Enjoy!
Heidi’s Tips for Recipe Success
Use a blend of tomato products for a more nuanced flavor. This simple goulash recipe calls for tomato paste, canned diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce to create a nuanced, not-too-acidic sauce base.
Scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent sticking. Macaroni noodles love to migrate to the bottom of the soup pot and stay there, so really work your spoon around the edges to prevent anything from burning.
Add extra broth to thin out the goulash. You’ll be surprised at how much the ground beef goulash thickens after the macaroni is added. If it thickens too much for your liking, just stir in a little extra beef broth.
The Main Ingredients You’ll Need
The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Ground beef — 85% lean ground beef is perfect.
- Herbs and spices — We’re taking a nod from the Hungarians and infusing the goulash with plenty of sweet paprika, plus a pinch of red pepper flakes, dried oregano, kosher salt, and pepper.
- Canned tomato products — You’ll need tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce (not to be confused with marinara sauce!).
- Beef broth — I suggest using low-sodium broth and then salting the goulash to taste.
- Worcestershire sauce — Is an umami flavor bomb that gives the sauce a rich flavor.
- Macaroni noodles — The pasta cooks directly in the pot so it can soak up lots of flavor and help thicken the goulash.
- Red wine vinegar — American goulash can taste quite heavy, so you need a little acid to brighten things up.
How to Make American Goulash with Ground Beef and Macaroni
- Sauté the aromatics. Heat a little oil until shimmering, then add in the diced onion and bell pepper. Once those have softened, stir in the garlic and seasonings.
- Brown the ground beef. Take the time to break up the beef into smaller pieces as it browns. Then, stir in the tomato products, broth, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Cook the macaroni. It’ll need about 15 minutes to cook through.
- Finish and serve. Remove the goulash from the heat and stir in the vinegar and a handful of shredded cheddar cheese. I also like to sprinkle in some fresh parsley, but you can omit it if desired.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below, leave a comment to tell us what you think, and tag me on Instagram @foodiecrush.
American Goulash Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 pound 85% lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 15- ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 15- ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 cup shredded medium cheddar cheese
- chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the savory aromatics. In a Dutch oven or large heavy bottom pot, heat the oven over medium. Add 1 diced yellow onion and 1 diced bell pepper and cook until soft, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2 pressed garlic cloves, 1 ½ teaspoons sweet paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and cook for 1 minute until the garlic blooms and smells fragrant.
- Brown the ground beef and add the tomatoes. Add 1 pound lean ground beef, and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned, breaking up with a wooden spatula. Stir in 1 tablespoon tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add 15 ounces diced tomatoes, 15 ounces tomato sauce, 1 ½ cups beef broth, and 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil.
- Cook the macaroni in the beefy tomato sauce. Add 1 ½ cups macaroni, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 15-18 minutes until the noodles soften and the sauce thickens, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot if the pasta begins to stick.
- Add the cheese, garnish, and serve. Remove the pasta from the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar. Add 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and stir until melted through. Add more beef broth if the goulash is too thick, adjust the salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Nutrition
What to Serve With American Goulash
- Garlic Bread
- Fluffy Dinner Rolls
- Apple and Arugula Salad
- Kale, Apple, and Cranberry Salad
- French Onion Grilled Cheese
Storage Tips
Leftover hamburger goulash will last up to 5 days in the fridge, noting that the macaroni noodles will soften as they sit in the broth.
I don’t recommend freezing this pasta dish as is; if you plan on freezing it, cook the macaroni in a separate pot, divide between bowls, and spoon the goulash over top. This way, you can freeze the base sans noodles.
More Recipes Using Ground Beef
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Amanda
This was very tasty. The perfect Sunday supper last night! My husband had the leftovers for lunch , which he enjoyed.
Perfect way to extend Sunday into the week Amanda! Glad you and your husb enjoyed it!