There’s nothing quite like a hearty bowl of Old Fashioned Goulash for dinner. And it’s so easy to make all in one pot! Ground beef, green peppers, onions and tomato sauce in elbow macaroni makes for delicious family dinner any night of the week! And we’ve also included a Slow Cooker Goulash Recipe as well!
Contents hide
1 What is Goulash?
2 How to Make Old Fashioned Goulash
3 Storage and Freezing Goulash
4 Goulash Additions
5 Slow Cooker Goulash Recipe
6 What To Serve With Goulash?
7 Other Notes, Tips and Variations
8 Tools To Help With This Recipe
9 Old Fashioned Goulash
9.1 Ingredients 1x2x3x
9.2 Instructions
9.3 Nutrition
What is Goulash?
This is technically American Goulash, which is quite a bit different than Hungarian Goulash. Hungarian Goulash consists of stew meat, vegetables and is spiced with Paprika. American Goulash has ground beef, vegetables, pasta and usually a TON of tomatoes. American Goulash goes by a TON of names, including Johnny Marzetti, American Chop Suey and Slumgullion… just to name a few!
How to Make Old Fashioned Goulash
Like all classic comfort food recipes, this is SO SIMPLE and EASY and just takes a few common ingredients that you probably already have on hand! Just throw in all in your Stock Pot or Dutch Oven and let the delicious aromas gather in your kitchen! See the full instructions in the recipe card below.
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR THIS RECIPE:
- GROUND BEEF – We used 80/20 ground beef, but you can use any ground meat you’d like. If you want to try to lighten this dish up a bit, you can sub for ground chicken or ground turkey.
- GREEN PEPPER – Chopped. Make sure that you wash it well and remove all the seeds.
- ONION – Red or yellow onion will work. Whatever you have on hand. This is a very forgiving recipe!
- GARLIC – You’ll be sauteing this with the onions and ground beef. The smell will be amazing!
- TOMATO SAUCE – Add this with the stewed tomatoes to create your tomato stew.
- STEWED TOMATOES – Don’t drain before adding. Just dump the whole can in and let it all simmer!
- WATER – H2O!
- WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE – Helps give your tomatoes a little boost of flavor.
- ITALIAN SEASONING – The strongest flavors in Italian Seasoning are Basil and Oregano. So, if you don’t have Italian Seasoning, but have those spices, you can probably get away with just using them.
- SALT AND BLACK PEPPER – To taste
- ELBOW MACARONI – We used 2 cups elbow macaroni noodles, and it seems like that is the most common pasta to use in this recipe. But you could sub for other smaller pasta if you’d like. I’ve also seen people use egg noodles.
Storage and Freezing Goulash
This is one of the recipes that tastes just as good, maybe even better, for leftovers! Store leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator. It will be good for up to 5 days.
You can freeze Goulash. Just allow it to cool completely and put it in a freezer friendly container. It will be good in your Freezer for 3-4 months. You can thaw it out overnight in your fridge and reheat it in your oven at 350 degrees until heated through.
Goulash Additions
One of the great things about forgiving recipes like this is that you can generally add and subtract ingredients to your tastes. Our version is a pretty basic Old Fashioned Goulash Recipe. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative! Some ideas of things to add are:
- Canned whole kernel corn.
- Beans – Black, Kidney Beans or Chili Beans. If using Chili Beans, you can leave the sauce from the can to add even more flavor!
- Carrots
- Peas
- Bell Peppers
- Green Beans
Slow Cooker Goulash Recipe
Can you make Goulash in a Slow Cooker? You bet! This is a great idea if you want to make it ahead of time and have it waiting for you when you are ready to eat it. It’s a pretty simple recipe. Just brown your ground beef in a non-stick skillet. Then add the ground beef and all the other ingredients (except your noodles!) into your Slow Cooker. Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4-6 hours.
When adding the noodles, you have two options. You can cook them on the side and keep them in the fridge until the final 10-20 minutes of cooking. Then add them in to warm them up. Or, you can add them uncooked in the final 30-40 minutes of cooking.
What To Serve With Goulash?
For sure, this recipe goes great with any bread. Some suggestions would be Mayo Rolls, Garlic Cheddar Biscuits, Drop Biscuits or 7-Up Biscuits.
You could also serve it with a salad, like this Grilled Vegetable Salad.
Other Notes, Tips and Variations
- TOPPINGS – When ready to serve, consider adding some toppings to enhance the meal. Such as: Saltine Crackers, Oyster Crackers or Fritos.
- ADD CHEESE – Cheddar Cheese works great! Or Pepper Jack to give it a little kick! And Mozzarella cheese would also be delicious!
- ADD SOME SPICE – With dishes like this, I love to stir in some Sriracha Sauce or any other hot sauce!
- CAN YOU USE DICED TOMATOES INSTEAD OF STEWED TOMATOES? – Yes. You should be able to substitute diced for stewed tomatoes.
- BEEF BROTH – To make a richer soup, substitute beef broth for the water.
We hope you love this recipe for Old Fashioned Goulash and brings back happy memories from your childhood!
Tools To Help With This Recipe
FOR OTHER CLASSIC FAMILY DINNERS, CHECK OUT:
- TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE
- BISQUICK CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS
- CROCKPOT RANCH PORK CHOPS
- HOMEMADE BEEFARONI
- JOHN WAYNE CASSEROLE
Rate this Recipe
Old Fashioned Goulash
Course Main Course
Servings 10 servings
There’s nothing quite like a hearty bowl of Old Fashioned Goulash for dinner. And it’s so easy to make all in one pot! Ground beef, green peppers, onions and tomato sauce in elbow macaroni makes for delicious family dinner any night of the week! And we've also included Slow Cooker Goulash recipe as well!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 green pepper seeds removed and chopped
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 can 15 oz, tomato sauce
- 1 can 14.5 oz, stewed tomatoes (do not drain)
- 3 cups water
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
Instructions
In a large stock pot, add beef, pepper, garlic and onion.
Heat over medium high heat, stirring frequently until meat is browned. Drain grease. Return meat to pot.
Add tomato sauce, tomatoes, water, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings and mix well. Heat over medium high heat until boiling.
Add pasta and continue to cook over a strong boil for 8-12 minutes or until pasta is cooked to your liking.
Remove from heat and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 241kcal
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Reader Interactions
montanasugrplm says
🎃THIS IS PRETTY MUCH MY LIFE RECIPE… I LOVE GOULASH… SO EASY AND SO DELISH 🧡
THANK YOU🧡 FOR THE MEMORIES… IM MAKING RIBS TONITE ….BUT I GUARANTEE YOU… NEXT WEEK IT WILL BE THIS VERY, WONDERFUL , DELICIOUS,
GOULASH
HAPPY HALLOWEEN AND THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL… I WISH YOU GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPY TRAILS 🎃Reply
Kathy says
Thank you! We agree that this is a super easy recipe!
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Bonnie R Romstadt says
I use tomato juice instead of the sauce.
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Kathy says
Great suggestion… thank you!
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rich miller says
Try using spicy hot v8. I use it to add liquid to any microwave tomato based lunch, and use it when making chili.
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Kathy says
great idea
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Debra Sue Larro says
GREAT STUFFReply
Kathy says
thanks so much!
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Chiara says
It’s Christmas Eve noon. Just been informed I’m cooking for 4 of us at 2pm today. Couldn’t find my Mom’s recipe. Thank you. I go with paprika and dash of chili powder and grated parm on side. Thank you again. I was having a panic attack! Cooking in the era of Covid requires comfort food. I will serve with cornbread and caesar salad. Cheesecake courtesy of a good neighbor. Merry Christmas Eve….afternoon!Reply
Sandy Pikula says
My mom used to make this and we all loved it. This recipe is pretty much the same as she had except I added a can of tomato paste just to thicken it up a little & I don’t think she used the Worcestershire sauce. But I added it tonight so it’ll be interesting to see if it makes a difference.
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Kathy says
I hope you enjoyed it!
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Belinda Hix says
Absolutely comforting food reminds me so much of my childhood it is delicious we all love it here at my house thank you so much I’m making it as I’m making this commentReply
Kathy says
So glad you enjoyed it!
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Bill Thompson says
Easy , Simple , Delicious ! ! !Reply
Tracy Lutman says
This is serious comfort food and a great recipe :)) Looks and tastes wonderful. I substituted V8 juice (adds even more flavor) for tomato sauce.Reply
Tracy Lutman says
Sorry….meant to mark this recipe FIVE stars :))Reply
Cynthia Warnick says
This recipe sounds like the goulash my mother made….except she used celery and egg noodles (instead of the green pepper and macaroni). I still make it her way to this day….no one has ever complained about it, and it’s actually better the second day.Reply
Alyssa says
I used beef broth instead of water and I think it made it a little more saltier than it would have been if I used water but other than that this was a really really good recipe! Cooked it tonight fairly quickly and followed the recipe to a T. Mixed cheese in it and omg so good. Wish I could post a picture.Reply
Shanti says
I tweeked the recipe by using half water, half beef broth. Or you can use only one cup beef broth the rest water. The beef broth really helps out this dish. So try it this way.
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Darlene says
Easy to make, with ingredients you usually have on hand. DeliciousReply
Shzaron says
I make this recipe all the time. Sometimes I add frozen corn and I cook my pasta before and then add it to the rest of the ingredients
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Sharon says
I make this recipe all the time. Sometimes I add frozen corn and I cook my pasta before and then add it to the rest of the ingredients
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Sharon says
Add 5 stars to my commentReply
Kathy says
🙂
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Sharon says
I make this recipe all the time. Sometimes I add frozen corn and I always cook my pasta separately and then added to the ingredients. It’s a very good recipe and my husband really enjoys itReply
Kathy says
So glad you all enjoy it! Thanks for the comment!
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Melimda says
This is basically the same recipe my grandma used when she made ghoulash!!
I LOVED her ghoulish, hoping this recipe is the one and it tastes like hers!!!
Thank you for posting this recipe!Reply
Scarlett says
Love goulash, quick, easy and always a hit. I use 2 cans if Rotel tomatoes and green chilies in place of stewed tomatoes, spice it up!Reply
Lori says
Easy and delicious!Reply
Kathy says
So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the kind comment!
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Dianne Hamilton says
Can’t wait until Fall gets here to try this goulash recipeReply
Kathy says
Made this tonight for dinner and my husband and I loved it!! Haven’t made it for years and almost forgot about it. I knew the minute I saw it I was going to make it.
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Kathy says
So happy it worked out and everyone loved it!
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Ruth says
Okay, hear me out, add pineapple. Seriously, it’s delicious. I also top mine with cheese.Reply
Kathy says
Pineapple on Goulash….?!?! Wow! You’ve certainly got me curious!
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Anna Murray says
I made this everal times but added more peppers and onion (we like it Chunky) my family loves it I add a side salad and everyone is happy. Thank you
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Kathy says
So awesome to hear!
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Christina says
My dad used to make Goulash all the time growing up & I’ve been hunting for a recipe like he used to make & u nailed it! Thank you so much for posting this! 🙂 Made it & my family loved it! Will be making this all the time especially since fall weather Is here! 🥰Reply
Kathy says
So happy it worked out for you!
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Olivia says
Love! Super easy and my family loved it! Will make again.Reply
Janet says
Loved this recipe!! So many memories of my childhood came flooding back!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!Reply
Carla says
This recipe is amazing!! Especially when you’re hungry.😄 I added mushrooms for something a little different. I also added cheese just before eating. I have been looking forever for a great recipe like this. Be prepared for leftovers unless you’re feeding a crew. It makes a lot. I will make this again definitely!!Reply
Sharon says
Tastes just like my Mama’s!!! ❤️ Thank you, brought me back to when I was a child 😍 when you start missing your mama, you make something that she could make very well..💞😋Reply
D.Wurth says
This was delicious!! Not a bite left in the pot! Fixed it for my fam ( husband, son, daughter, and SIL) and my daughter called this morning wanting the recipe.
Will prob double it next time! 😂
Thanks for a new family favorite meal! I’m always looking for quick easy meals to fix a crowd and this is perfect!Reply
Kathy says
So happy your family loved it!
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Kind Words Matter says
I NEVER SAW THE SPECIFIED RECIPE FOR THE ” INSTANT POT ” OLD FASHIONED GHOULOSH- – PLEASE PLEASE POST- WITH GREAT INSTRUCTIONS FOR BEGINNERSReply
Kathy says
Hello- sorry. I’m not understanding the comment? Are you asking us to post a recipe for Instant Pot Goulash? We haven’t tried that yet so don’t feel comfortable posting a recipe. This recipe is for goulash made on a stove top. But did also include slow cooker instructions.
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Kathryn Ackerman says
I want to add sweet paprika, but not sure how much to use.
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Carole says
I made this today, only substituted Jimmy Dean Regular sausage for the ground beef and substituted the stewed tomatoes for petite diced tomatoes. These are the ONLY changes I made to this recipe and it is so SPICY HOT I CANNOT EAT IT. Any Ideas ??
I doubled the recipe as I always enjoy leftovers 🙃Reply
Denise says
Omg! This recipe was fabulous! I let it simmer a bit so it thickened up. Delicious!! I had to stop myself from eating more. This goes on my favorites list!
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Kathy says
We are so happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for coming back and letting us know!
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