Old-Fashioned One-Pot Goulash Recipe
Need a comforting one-pot meal the entire family will enjoy?!
This Old-Fashioned One-Pot Goulash recipe is so delicious and easy to make with pantry staples you most likely already have on hand. It’s one of those meals you can definitely customize, season to taste, and add to as desired.
What is goulash?
Goulash (stemming from Hungarian) is a dish originating from medieval Hungary. This stew of meat and vegetables with spices is not only a popular Central European meal, but it’s one of the national dishes of Hungary. Today, goulash is made with beef, pork, or lamb cut into chunks, seasoned with salt, and then browned with onion in a pot with oil. Paprika is added, along with water or stock, and the goulash is left to simmer. A small amount of white wine or wine vinegar can also be added near the end of cooking to round the taste, but that’s totally optional (I didn’t include that in my recipe).
Old-Fashioned Goulash
yield: 6 SERVINGS
prep time: 10 MINUTES
cook time: 20 MINUTES
total time: 30 MINUTES
Make this easy goulash recipe that is hearty and filling! Kids love this pasta flavorful dish.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 (15.oz.) cans tomato sauce
- 2 (15oz.) cans diced tomatoes
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup beef broth
- 3 bay Leaves
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 cups elbow macaroni pasta, uncooked
- 1 and 1/2 cups shredded cheese (I used Colby/Cheddar)
Directions
1
In a large pan on the stove, brown and crumble meat with onion and garlic.
2
Pour in water, broth, oil, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes.
3
Stir in paprika, black pepper, salt, and Italian seasonings. Add bay leaves.
4
Let simmer on low for about 20 minutes, covered.
5
Stir in elbow macaroni and let simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove bay leaves.
6
Top with cheese and close lid to melt.
Hip Tips:
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- Topping with cheese at the end is optional but definitely makes it over the top YUMMY!
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- The consistency turns out a little thicker like a casserole than a soup.
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- The leftovers are so tasty, this is one of those recipes that’s perfect to batch cook on a Sunday and send out as lunch leftovers during the week! I also like having extras for dinner, served with bread and salad.
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- You can even add flavors for an ethnic flair. For a taco-flavored goulash, add my taco seasoning blend recipe!
This was so good and a big hit at my house!
What an easy and comforting family meal. The leftovers were yummy, too! My kids even like this, and it’s such a fun meal for busy weeknights. Enjoy!
Try this Sheet Pan Chicken Pot Pie!
Now this dish sooo good!! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks Lizz!
Thank you Lina! I’ve been trying to come up with some cheap & easy dinner ideas and this is perfect!
Me too, one pan and that’s it! Thanks Lina!
Sure! enjoy 🙂
Anyone have a good brisket in the crock pot recipe?
Never made it but I have heard the Mississippi roast on Pinterest is awesome!
Mississippi Roast is SO good!
Thanks! Making this tonight!
Oh boy this recipe looks amazingly delicious! One of his favorite pasta recipes is Creamy Chicken Pasta http://www.munchkintime.com/the-best-creamy-chicken-pasta/ I am sure he will be licking his fingers if I make this for him! Thank you for sharing!
Oh that looks yum too! Thanks for stopping by 😀
I’ve always wondered what goulash was. I’m not sure what I thought it was, but this looks delicious!
http://aneducationindomestication.com
If you order goulash at a restaurant I’d say it’s pretty unlikely this is what you’d get. I guess this is what American goulash is.
I like to make this for Halloween! 🙂 I grew up with a similar version that includes pretty much whatever leftover veggies and pasta you have on hand.
We have “ghoul-osh” on Halloween too! 🙂
So cute!
Oh that’s a fun idea! Thanks 🙂
I made this Monday night! It was so good!
Oh yay! So glad to hear. 🙂
Any ideas for how to use the electric pressure cooker with this recipe?
I would saute the meat and onions until browned, then add the other ingredients. Cook on high for two minutes then quick release. Add cheese on top. (This would be my guess as the Mac n cheese recipe only takes 2 minutes in the pressure cooker.)
I’ve made this my whole life. It’s a one pot wonder! I add corn (more veggies) and served it as a complete meal to my kids. No fuss, no mess! One pot and some bowls!! Reheats even tastier and for that reason double the recipe in a big pot and have leftovers on hand and/or share. If you leave out all the spices and use only seasoned salt and pepper it is a dish you can take into any home with children and they will eat it right up! Great for helping out after a new baby comes home or mom is sick.
Awesome! Yes a agree a great meal to share 🙂
Thanks Dee <3
I make this all the time but I didn’t know it was called goulash! I usually call it homemade hamburger helper. It’s a hit everyone is happy and fed!
I use a packet of onion soup mix in place of the spices listed. Game changer!!!
Can you make this in the crock pot ? Any help?
This was one if my faves growing up, but my mom out only a pound of grains beef and added yellow squash, zucchini and corn. She named the dish after me cause I loved it sooo much, V’s goulash.
Oh that’s so nice! 😀
Thanks for the recipe making it for dinner tonight.
I don’t see what to do with the oil in the recipe?
Whoops add it in with tomatoes. I’ll fix that. Thanks!
Making this right now. Does the oil eventually mix in instead of just being on top? I soo hope it is as good as it looks.
Made this last night….so good!
That’s so great! Thanks for sharing
On directions it says to add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes but on the list of ingredients, I don’t see tomato sauce. What should it be?
Ingredients were missing 2 cans of tomato sauce. So sorry- we fixed it! Thanks so much for letting me know! 🙂
This looks great! Making it today. You do drain the grease off the ground beef before adding the rest of the ingredients, don’t you? Thanks!
Yes depends on how lean your meat is- if needed! Thanks 👍
OMG I would love to make this. Maybe I can cut it in half and make it for myself. My brothers won’t eat anything with tomato in it but I remember having this at my girlfriends house in Germany. It was my first American Goulash. Loved it. Wish I could find her and get her recipe. LOL
Yes! Also I forgot to add- leftovers of this are even BETTER!!! So you could just plan on having some leftover 🙂