American Goulash Recipe (VIDEO)

This hardy American Goulash Recipe is one of my kids’ favorites. It is a classic dish from our childhoods similar to Hamburger Helper, with ground beef and elbow macaroni cooked in a savory tomato sauce and topped with cheese. It’s so easy to make this comforting one-pot meal.

Dutch oven filled with American Goulash with ground beef, tomatoes and elbow macaroni pasta

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What is American Goulash?

American Goulash has many names, depending on the region you’re from – Slumgullion, American Chop Suey, Johnny Marzetti, and even Beefaroni. Regardless of what you call it, we can all agree it’s an American treasure of hardy tomato sauce with ground beef, and the pasta is cooked right in the sauce to soak up all those delicious, cozy flavors.

Goulash is a great way to stretch a pound of ground beef to feed a crowd, especially when you want something warm and satisfying. It’s a staple in so many homes just like Sloppy Joes, Beef Stew, and Chicken Noodle Soup. It hits the spot when you’re craving something less fussy but with all the best flavors.

American Goulash Video

See how Natasha turns common pantry staples into a saucy, beefy, warm and satisfying pasta dish in one pot. It’s so easy, you can have American Goulash for dinner tonight!

Why This American Goulash Works

Reheats well – great for meal prep
Family and Kid-Friendly – my kids practically lick their bowls clean
Budget-friendly – satisfying dish to serve a crowd with just 1 pound of meat
Simple Ingredients – you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry and it comes together in one pot
Nutritious – great recipe to sneak in extra veggies
Nostalgic – it must be good if generations of grandmas and moms have served this dish!

Ingredients

It couldn’t be easier to make this homemade hamburger helper recipe with food right from your pantry and refrigerator. You’ll find this recipe is so forgiving and there are plenty of substitution options below.

Ground beef – We prefer 90/10 lean ground beef so the dish doesn’t get too greasy, or you can drain some of the fat after browning the meat
Onion, carrot, celery and garlic – this aromatic blend of veggies is the base to great flavor. Cut these finely enough and they disappear in the dish
Seasonings – The simple combination of dried oregano, salt and black pepper enhances the flavor of the sauce
Sugar – helps to balance the tomato acidity
Tomatoes – combining canned crushed tomatoes and double-concentrated tomato paste amplifies the flavor of the sauce.
Worcestershire sauce – check the label for gluten-free if needed, can sub for soy sauce in a pinch
Chicken stock and water – flavors and cooks the pasta, use homemade chicken stock, beef broth, or even just water
Macaroni noodles – we use elbows, but you can substitute any small pasta shape or Gluten Free pasta
Parmesan Cheese – gives the dish a last punch of nutty saltiness.

Ingredients for American Goulash recipe including ground beef, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, celery, carrots, onion, chicken stock, salt, pepper, oregano, elbow macaroni pasta, and Worcestershire

Substitutions

I love American Goulash because it’s a forgiving recipe where you can use what you have:

Meat – substitute Italian sausage or ground turkey for the ground beef
Pasta – any small pasta works—elbows, bowties, small shells, ditalini, or ziti. Also try whole-wheat, gluten-free, or veggie pasta to make it low-carb. Adjust the amount of water as needed.
Veggies – add diced veggies in with the onions, such as mushrooms, jalapeños, riced cauliflower, or bell peppers. Or add lighter veggies at the end until warmed through: spinach, frozen corn, frozen peas or even pitted olives
Beans – stir in a drained can of kidney beans or black beans after the pasta cooks until warmed through
Spices – sub the oregano for chili powder (and cheddar cheese) for something similar to Chili Mac, or add thyme, red pepper flakes, bay leaves, or Tabasco for a bit of heat
Cheese – swap parmesan for any shredded cheese you’d like, like mozzarella, cheddar cheese, Mexican mix, or havarti

How to Make American Goulash

This American Goulash recipe is the ultimate comfort food and comes together in one pot. It’s a quick and easy weeknight meal.

Cook ground beef in a large Dutch oven or pot with 1 Tbsp of oil for 1 minute.
Stir in the celery, carrot, onion and garlic and sautee until the veggies are softened and beef is browned, 5 minutes.
Season with salt, oregano, pepper, and sugar.
Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire, chicken stock, and water. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add macaroni, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until the pasta is cooked through, stirring especially towards the beginning to ensure the pasta doesn’t stick to the pot. Add water as needed if the mixture seems dry.
Add parmesan cheese and serve with more cheese sprinkled over the top.

Step-by-step tutorial of how to make American Goulash

Pro Tip:

Depending on the type of pasta you use, add more water as needed if the pasta seems dry. If you make this ahead, be sure not to overcook the pasta, since overcooked pasta can get mushy and dry when reheated.

What’s the difference between Hungarian and American Goulash?

Both Goulashes are rustic, hardy dishes designed to feed a hungry crowd. The two dishes are quite different in ingredients and flavor so they are easy to differentiate:

American Goulash is a comforting combination of ground beef, macaroni pasta, and tomatoes with a blend of spices that comes together in one pot. It cooks in under an hour.
Hungarian Goulash is more of a stew with chunks of beef and vegetables simmered in a paprika broth for hours. It’s typically served over noodles or dumplings.

A spoon of homemade hamburger helper recipe

What to Serve with American Goulash

American Chop Suey is typically served along with a slice of buttered toast, which definitely keeps in line with the nostalgic recipe, but we like to serve it with crusty bread to soak up the tomato sauce along with roasted veggies or salad. Here are some ideas:

Make-Ahead

American Goulash is meal-prep friendly and perfect for school lunch in a thermos.

To Refrigerate: Cool and store in an airtight container for 3-4 days (this is the USDA recommendation for using cooked beef)
Freezing: Cool and store in an airtight container or large freezer zip-top bag for up to three months
To Reheat: thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the microwave or a saucepan until heated through. If it looks dry, add a splash of water to keep the pasta saucy.

Goulash recipe stirred in a white dutch oven with wooden spoon

American Goulash is the perfect saucy, satisfying dish for cold weekday nights when you’re looking for something cozy but quick to make. This recipe will quickly become your go-to recipe for feeding your hungry family.

More One-Pot Meals

If you love this American Goulash recipe, you’ll love these popular easy dinner ideas: