Cheesy American Goulash Can Be Made from Start to Finish in One Pot (2024)

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Kristina Vänni

Kristina Vänni

Internationally recognized culinary authority Kristina Vänni is a well-known food writer, engaging TV host, award-winning recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer. In addition to writing for industry-leading websites including Better Homes and Gardens, The Spruce Eats, and Food52, she has been a featured expert on national media such as ABC News’ “World News Tonight” and CBS’ “The Talk” and has served as a spokesperson and recipe developer for national brands such as Finlandia, KitchenAid, Post Foods, Baileys, among many others. Kristina is currently writing her first cookbook, an exploration of the traditional and seasonal cuisine from her family's dairy farm in Finland. Kristina enthusiastically shares her creative content, behind-the-scenes peeks, and industry expertise with food enthusiasts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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published Dec 30, 2021

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Cheesy American Goulash Can Be Made from Start to Finish in One Pot (1)

When you are looking for a dinner that will be a hit with the whole family and can be prepared in just one pot, look no further than American goulash.

Serves4 to 6Prep5 minutesCook20 minutes

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Cheesy American Goulash Can Be Made from Start to Finish in One Pot (2)

When you’re looking for a dinner that will be a hit with the whole family and can be prepared from start to finish all in the same pot, look no further than American goulash. This meal is quite different than the traditional Hungarian dish. It starts with seasoned ground beef and incorporates noodles — typically elbow macaroni or wide egg noodles. It all comes together with the help of beef stock and tomatoes and in under half an hour, dinner is served!

What Is American Goulash?

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. Besides the name, there is no real connection to Hungarian goulash in terms of the flavor or ingredients.

Key Ingredients in American Goulash

While Hungarian goulash is a soup or stew made with beef, onions, and paprika, American goulash is a beef, tomato, and macaroni dish. American goulash can be seasoned in a wide variety of ways, often with aromatics such as onion and garlic as well as Italian seasoning blend. It often includes paprika as a nod to the Hungarian goulash namesake. American goulash can also be topped with a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese, if desired.

Slumgullion Versus Goulash

Some use the names slumgullion and American goulash interchangeably to refer to the same beef and noodle dish. However, slumgullion tends to be more of a stew consistency made up with meat and whatever else is on hand. Goulash is sometimes used figuratively to mean a jumble or a hodgepodge, therefore it is also implied that the dish can include a variety of available ingredients.

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American Goulash Recipe

When you are looking for a dinner that will be a hit with the whole family and can be prepared in just one pot, look no further than American goulash.

Prep time 5 minutes

Cook time 20 minutes

Serves 4 to 6

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1

    medium yellow onion

  • 1 tablespoon

    olive oil

  • 1 pound

    lean ground beef (90% lean)

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons

    Italian seasoning

  • 1 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    garlic powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon

    red pepper flakes

  • 1 (28-ounce) can

    crushed tomatoes

  • 2 cups

    beef broth

  • 1 tablespoon

    Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 cups

    dried elbow macaroni (about 9 ounces)

  • 4 ounces

    cheddar cheese

  • 1/4 bunch

    fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Dice 1 medium yellow onion until you have 1 cup.

  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and 1 pound lean ground beef. Cook, stirring and breaking up the pieces of meat into smaller pieces, until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are starting to soften, about 6 minutes.

  3. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and stir to combine. Add 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, 2 cups beef broth, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, and stir to combine. Add 2 cups elbow macaroni, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil.

  4. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the macaroni is al dente, stirring occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot, about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, shred 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 cup). Pick the leaves from 1/4 bunch fresh parsley and coarsely chop until you have about 1/4 cup.

  5. Remove the pot from the heat. Taste and season with more kosher salt as needed. Sprinkle with the cheese and let sit until melted. Garnish with parsley just before serving. (Alternatively, garnish each serving with cheese and parsley instead.)

Recipe Notes

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerate before reheating.

Filed in:

Beef

Ingredient

Main Dish

quick

stovetop

children

Cheesy American Goulash Can Be Made from Start to Finish in One Pot (2024)

FAQs

What is American goulash made of? ›

This goulash recipe, however, is American style, using ground beef, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and spices. It's kind of like the start of a good chili recipe! Once everything is cooked together, macaroni is added and cooked right in the sauce.

What is traditional goulash made of? ›

It is made with simple ingredients like meat, peppers and root vegetables elevated to perfection by the use of Hungary's most famous spice: paprika. Goulash can be made with beef or pork but the traditional way of making it is with beef.

Is goulash a starter? ›

Among the most popular Polish starters are traditional Polish appetiser dishes such as pierogi (dumplings), bigos (stew), and kielbasa (sausage) as well as goulash, and beetroot soup.

What's the difference between goulash? ›

There are two kinds of goulash: Hungarian goulash, which calls for the slow-simmered beef to be served alongside egg noodles, and American goulash, which pulls in ground beef and cooks the noodles in the pot alongside the sauce.

What are the two types of 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 goulash sauce made of? ›

Sauce – This goulash recipe starts with jarred pasta sauce or marinara sauce and canned tomatoes. Water or broth are added to cook the pasta. Seasoning – Onion, garlic, Italian Seasoning, and bay leaf flavor the sauce.

Is goulash always a soup? ›

The essential Hungarian comfort foods are soups and stews, and the single most famous one is called Goulash or Gulyás in Hungarian. Many consider it a soup, others a stew. If I could borrow a term from Rachael Ray, I'd call it a stoup, because it really is a cross between the two.

Why is American goulash so different? ›

American goulash is more of a pasta and ground beef dish

Owing more influence to Italian-American cuisine than Hungarian, paprika isn't even a consistent addition, per Syracruse.com. The nostalgic family meal is synonymous with American chop suey, another macaroni-based one-pot dish.

What is goulash eaten with? ›

What is Goulash Traditionally Served with? In Hungary, goulash is served with buttered egg noodles called Csipetke, which is the Hungarian word for spaetzle. Also good to serve with goulash is any kind of small pasta, mashed potatoes, dumplings, rice or bread to mop up the delicious sauce.

How to get goulash soft? ›

Choose marbled meat for your goulash, as it cooks very slowly, the fat will render down and give you a tender end result. Beef and veal are very popular, but you can also choose game, pork, or lamb. Lean meat is less suitable, as it will toughen up over the long cooking time.

What ethnicity makes 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.

What is goulash slang for? ›

goulash in American English

2. a heterogeneous mixture; hodgepodge; jumble.

What is another name for American goulash? ›

American chop suey is an American pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni and a seasoned tomato sauce, found in the cuisine of New England and other regions of the United States. Outside New England it is sometimes called American goulash or Johnny Marzetti, among other names.

Is beef stroganoff the same as goulash? ›

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? Traditional goulash is a type of soup or stew that uses a cheaper cut of meat suitable for slow cooking as well as peppers. Meanwhile, stroganoff is a creamy dish that uses higher-quality meat and mushrooms.

Which country has the best goulash? ›

Hungary's most famous food, the goulash, is a crimson-hued beef soup laced with vegetables and imparting the sweet-sharp flavor of fresh paprika. The dish is named after the herdsmen in eastern Hungary – the gulyás – who prepared this hearty soup in large cast-iron pots.

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? ›

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? Traditional goulash is a type of soup or stew that uses a cheaper cut of meat suitable for slow cooking as well as peppers. Meanwhile, stroganoff is a creamy dish that uses higher-quality meat and mushrooms.

What do you eat with goulash? ›

Serve up a hearty goulash for the ultimate comforting stew on winter nights. Searching for the perfect accompaniment? Try mashed potato, dumplings or your favourite veg.

Are American chop suey and goulash the same thing? ›

American chop suey is an American pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni and a seasoned tomato sauce, found in the cuisine of New England and other regions of the United States. Outside New England it is sometimes called American goulash or Johnny Marzetti, among other names.

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