Cheesy Goulash Recipe (2024)

This classic Cheesy Goulash recipe combines ground beef and tomatoes with smoky paprika and spices and macaroni for an easy meal everyone loves!

This Cheesy Goulash recipe combines beef, smoky sauce goodness with delicious pasta for a mouthwatering, one-pot meal that is kid-friendly and is ready less than 30 minutes.

closeup of beef and elbow noodles in a tomato sauce with shredded cheese and a bay leaf on top

Cheesy Goulash Recipe (1)

big pot of beef goulash with elbow noodles in a tomato sauce with shredded cheese and a bay leaf on top

Easy One-Pot American Goulash

Look no further! This is the most convenient and perfect family meal you can make on busy nights.

Also known as American Goulash, this recipe is an old-fashioned, cheesy goodness and a hearty meal. When you're craving comfort food, this definitely hits the spot!

✨ What Does Goulash Mean?

The word goulash originally refers to a Hungarian stew made with meat, paprika and vegetables. This recipe is the American version and they are nothing alike! This recipe is similar to spaghetti and tomato meat sauce but goulash is cooked one pot versus cooking the pasta and sauce separately.

This classic Cheesy Goulash recipe combines ground beef and tomatoes with smoky paprika and spices and macaroni for an easy meal everyone loves!🥫 Ingredients needed:

Cheesy Goulash Recipe (2)closeup of beef and elbow noodles in a tomato sauce with shredded cheese and a bay leaf on top

Cheesy Goulash Recipe (3)

several white bowls with ingredients for american goulash - ground beef, elbow noodes, diced onion, paprika, shredded cheese, parmesan cheese, diced tomatoes and spices.

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 14.5 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • salt & black pepper to taste
  • 1 ¼ cup elbow macaroni noodles, uncooked
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
  • One Bay leaf, optional

🔄 Substitutions

Use 1 teaspoon oregano and 1 teaspoon of dried basil if you don't have Italian seasoning.

For spicy goulash, add ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper.

Use water instead of broth.

Use your favorite jar of spaghetti sauce instead of the cans of tomatoes and spices.

🔪 How to make Beef Goulash

Step 1: Add onion and beef to a large skillet and brown over medium high heat until no longer pink. break into small pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks.

Cheesy Goulash Recipe (4)

collage of a big tan pot with raw hamburger meat topped with diced raw onions and the same pot with cooked ground beef

Step 2: Add garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, soy sauce salt and pepper and stir to combine well.

Cheesy Goulash Recipe (5)

big tan pot with cooked ground beef with minced garlic and spices on top and diced tomatoes added

Step 3: Add in both cans of tomatoes with the juice and the broth and stir to combine. Heat over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Then cover and reduce heat to simmer for 10 minutes.

Cheesy Goulash Recipe (6)

big tan pot with cooked ground beef and tomato mixture with uncooked dry elbow macaroni in the center.

Step 4: Add the dry pasta, stir to combine and cook for 7-9 minutes until pasta is tender or to desired consistency.

Cheesy Goulash Recipe (7)

big tan pot with American goulash in a tomato sauce topped with shredded cheese and parmesan cheese

Step 5: Remove from stove and let rest for 5 minutes. Then add in the cheeses and stir to combine.

Cheesy Goulash Recipe (8)

white plate full of american goulash with ground beef, elbow noodles and diced tomatoes topped with shredded cheese

❄️ Storage Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

♨️ Reheating Instructions

Place in a sauce pan on the stove, cover and heat on medium heat until desired temperature, stirring often. Or place in a microwave safe dish and reheat in 30 seconds intervals, stirring after each interval. You can also place it in an oven safe dish and bake until heated through. Be careful not to over cook as the pasta could become mushy.

📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:

What to serve with Goulash?Serve this goulash along side a favorite salad and bread like Italian bread, dinner rolls or breadsticks.

Can you freeze Goulash?Yes, goulash is freezer friendly. Place it in a freezer safe dish and cover with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Thaw it in the refrigerator. Then re-heat on the stove, in the microwave or in the oven after removing the plastic wrap and foil.

Cheesy Goulash Recipe (9)

Sherri Hagymas headshot

Sherri

Recipe Developer and Food Photographer

Cheesy Goulash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional goulash made of? ›

Some very basic ingredients for goulash include beef, onions, carrots, potatoes, peppers, caraway seeds, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.

What is American Goulash made of? ›

Goulash Around The Globe

Hungarian Goulash is a beef and onion soup seasoned with Hungarian paprika and sometimes containing potatoes and/or carrots (often made without vegetables). American Goulash is old-fashioned goodness. It's a simple dish with ground beef and elbow macaroni in tomato sauce.

What goes good with goulash? ›

What to Serve with Goulash
  • Air Fryer Asparagus.
  • Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms.
  • Everyday Kale Salad.
  • Cucumber Tomato Salad.
  • Gluten Free Focaccia.

How much is a serving of homemade goulash? ›

This Beefy American Goulash makes a little over 15 cups total, so each satisfying serving is almost 2 cups!

What is the difference between American and traditional goulash? ›

American goulash is a one-pot dish of ground beef, pasta (often elbow macaroni), tomatoes and cheese. Sometimes it includes paprika, like its Hungarian counterpart. Since American goulash calls for ground beef, it cooks much faster than Hungarian goulash which relies on low-and-slow cooking to render the beef tender.

How do you thicken goulash? ›

Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking. Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil. This will cook out the flour taste and allow the starch to swell.

What are the two types of goulash? ›

Hungarian goulash and American goulash. Hungarian goulash is a thick soup with meat and vegetables, usually seasoned with paprika. American goulash is very different. It generally has tomato sauce, macaroni and beef.

What is the difference between goulash and goulash? ›

Hungarian Goulash is a thick meat and vegetable stew with a broth that's heavily seasoned with paprika, while American Goulash is a quick dish made from ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It also goes by the name of American Chop Suey.

What is technically goulash? ›

Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás) is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.

Do you eat the bread in goulash? ›

Real goulash has no tomato paste or beans. Eat with a slice of rustic bread. Dip bread in sauce and clean the plate with the bread at the end.

What is goulash called in America? ›

American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, American Chop Suey, or even Beef-a-Roni, is an American comfort-food dish popular in the Midwest and South.

Do you eat goulash in a bowl? ›

Also, it's not typically served over mash like stews, it's served in bowls like soup.

Is Goulash high in carbs? ›

Goulash, with beef, noodles or macaroni, tomato base (1 cup) contains 35.2g total carbs, 29.8g net carbs, 7.9g fat, 16.5g protein, and 275 calories.

How much ground beef for 4 meals? ›

One pound of ground beef can go a long way if you're cooking for one. In fact, we can get at least four single serving meals out of just one pound.

How much sugar is in Goulash? ›

Beef goulash contains 254 calories per 249 g serving. This serving contains 9.4 g of fat, 34 g of protein and 7 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 2.7 g sugar and 1 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate.

What's the difference between goulash and Hungarian goulash? ›

Hungarian Goulash is a thick meat and vegetable stew with a broth that's heavily seasoned with paprika, while American Goulash is a quick dish made from ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It also goes by the name of American Chop Suey.

What is the difference between Hungarian goulash and beef stew? ›

Though one noticeable thing about traditional Goulash is that the broth is thinner than what you think of with stews, and it's not thickened with flour or cream. Also, it's not typically served over mash like stews, it's served in bowls like soup.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. An Powlowski

Last Updated:

Views: 5974

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. An Powlowski

Birthday: 1992-09-29

Address: Apt. 994 8891 Orval Hill, Brittnyburgh, AZ 41023-0398

Phone: +26417467956738

Job: District Marketing Strategist

Hobby: Embroidery, Bodybuilding, Motor sports, Amateur radio, Wood carving, Whittling, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Prof. An Powlowski, I am a charming, helpful, attractive, good, graceful, thoughtful, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.