This American style old-fashioned goulash uses only simple ingredients for a delicious and inexpensive one-pot meal that is perfect for busy weeknights!
Also known as American goulash or American chop suey, my old fashioned goulash recipe consists of a flavorful mixture of ground hamburger, noodles, and a cheesy tomato-based sauce.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Lean ground beef - I recommend 85-15 or 90/10 hamburger meat. If your ground beef is very lean, you may want to add some olive oil to assist with browning. For a different flavor, you can substitute Italian sausage.
- Yellow onion - A sweet onion is a great substitution.
- Garlic cloves - ¾ teaspoon of garlic powder can be substituted.
- Elbow macaroni noodles
- Tomato sauce
- Diced tomatoes - I recommend canned diced tomatoes with liquid.
- Beef broth - Beef stock or chicken broth can be substituted.
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Soy sauce
- Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt
- Paprika
- Fresh ground black pepper
- Shredded Cheddar cheese - Mozzarella cheese can be substituted.
- Optional - Feel free to add bell peppers, bay leaves, or crushed red pepper flakes. Parmesan cheese is great to sprinkle on top.
How to make it
To make this one pot American goulash recipe begin by setting a large skillet over medium high heat on the stove top and adding the ground meat and chopped onions. Cook until the ground beef is nicely browned and the onions are tender. Then add the minced garlic and cook an additional two minutes.
Next, add the uncooked macaroni noodles, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, paprika, and black pepper. Mix everything together with a wooden spoon and bring the mixture to a simmer. Gently simmer for 10 minutes, or until the noodles are tender.
Finally, add the shredded cheese and stir it into the sauce until melted, then serve.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Leftover goulash should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. The leftovers will easily reheat in the microwave if heated in individual servings. This dish can be made in advance, but you can expect the texture of the noodles to soften.
Old-Fashioned Goulash (American Goulash)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni uncooked
- 30 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 15 ounce canned diced tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Place chopped onions and ground beef in a saute pan set over medium-high heat and cook until the hamburger is well browned and the onions are tender, breaking apart the meat into small crumbles as it cooks.
- Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
- Add the uncooked elbow macaroni, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with liquid, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper and stir to combine.
- Lower heat to medium low and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until noodles are tender and the sauce has thickened.
- Stir in the shredded cheese and serve immediately.
Mary Jo Oswalt
We made goulash a lot as there were 7 of us living on my Dad's military pay, once a month. We used tomato sauce, corn, and salt and pepper, along with the hamburger and onion. This was back in the 60's, never had many spices to add to foods like we have now. We loved it and every now and then I want to make it, except with ground turkey.
Love your recipes and I have forwarded them to family and friends as well.
Keep the recipes coming.
Carrie Conradt
Excellent recipe! Thanks, as always!