My easy American Goulash recipe will be a hit with the whole family! This one pot dish is made with fridge and pantry staples and it comes together in just 30 minutes.
“Happy tears! I’ve been searching for a recipe for what I remember from my childhood. This is exactly it, and the first bite took me right back to my mother’s kitchen. Thank you for sharing!”
We’ve reached the “1 pound of meat isn’t cutting it for our family of 5 anymore” portion of the program.
Translation: I am constantly looking for ways to stretch a pack of ground beef, and my American Goulash recipe is the perfect way to do it!
This easy and economical ground beef goulash is a family-friendly, one-pot meal made with ingredients I always have on hand. Plus it goes from stovetop to table in under 30 minutes. Every time I make it, I ask myself, “Is this really it? Am I missing a step?” NOPE! it really is that simple.
Watch How to Make It
(Looking for more budget-friendly ground beef dinner ideas? Check out my BBQ Cheddar Mini Meatloaves, Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper, and Hamburger Soup!)
American Goulash vs Hungarian Goulash
Goulash comes from the Hungarian word gulyáshús which means “meat prepared by cattleman” and it’s a dish that dates back to the 9th century. 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.
Whatever you call it, this dish is total comfort food and my whole family scrapes the pot clean every time I make it. Heck, I’ll probably make it for dinner tonight!
Now, what’s the difference between American Goulash and spaghetti? American Goulash combines the meat sauce and noodles in one pot to cook together, while the meat sauce and noodles are cooked then served separately in spaghetti.
Main Ingredients Needed
I love that I always have the ingredients on hand in the fridge, freezer, and pantry to make this easy dinner recipe. Usually the hardest part is remembering to thaw the ground beef ahead of time! Here’s the main ingredients you’ll need:
- Ground beef: I prefer to use lean ground beef so there’s no need to drain after browning. Ground turkey works too.
- Gluten free worcestershire sauce: not all brands are gluten free, so be sure to check the bottle. I use Lea & Perrins which, at the time of this writing, 1/26, is gluten free in the United States.
- Chicken or beef broth: I usually have chicken broth open in the fridge from using it in other dishes throughout the week, but feel free to use beef broth if that’s what you’ve got on hand instead.
- Tomato sauce: the kind that comes in a can, vs jarred spaghetti sauce.
- Petite diced tomatoes: adds fresh tomato flavor to the sauce.
- Italian seasoning: American-style Goulash uses Italian seasoning, vs paprika, which includes oregano, basil, and dried parsley.
- Gluten free elbow noodles: I typically use either Jovial brown rice elbows, or Barilla GF elbows which are a corn/rice blend.
Goulash Variations
What I love about this easy American goulash recipe is that it’s incredibly versatile. Think of it as a blank slate to add seasonings, spices, and ingredients to in the spirt of traditional Hungarian Goulash. Here are a few ways to switch things up:
- Add shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the top of each bowl for a mac and cheese meets spaghetti flavor.
- Stir in sour cream at the end of the cooking time to make creamy goulash.
- Stir in shredded mozzarella cheese and garnish with diced pepperoni, or your favorite pizza toppings, for a pizza spin. Don’t forget a dusting of parmesan cheese!
- Sneak some veggies into your American goulash by adding a cup or two of frozen riced cauliflower when browning the ground beef.
- Or add 8 ounces of minced fresh mushrooms when browning the ground beef.
- Add shredded cheddar cheese, chili powder, and a can of black beans or kidney beans to the pot to turn it into Chili Mac.
- Use Italian Sausage instead of beef for an Italian-inspired spin!
What to Serve with Goulash
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms
- Everyday Kale Salad
- Gluten Free Biscuits
- Gluten Free Cornbread
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Gluten Free Focaccia
How to Make American Goulash
Step 1: Brown the ground beef.
Heat a large saucepan, skillet, or Dutch oven over medium-high heat then add ground beef, shallot or yellow onion, and minced garlic cloves. Use a wooden spoon to break up the beef then season with Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and pepper.
Alternatively, you can cook ground beef restaurant-style to use in this dish!
Step 2: Simmer the sauce.
Once the beef has browned, add broth, diced tomatoes and sauce, Italian seasoning, a bay leaf, and a pinch more seasoned salt. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a boil then lower the heat and simmer the sauce for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Cook the noodles.
Stir the elbow noodles into the sauce then continue to simmer for another 12 to 14 minutes, or until the noodles are tender. Near the end of the cooking time, you may need to turn the heat down slightly to maintain a gentle simmer.
Recipe Tip
Be sure to stir often to ensure the noodles are cooking evenly.
That’s all she wrote – told you it was simple! This American goulash recipe is truly one of the easiest one pot meals you can make.
Remove the bay leaf from the pot then scoop into bowls and serve. Again, adding shredded cheese is optional, but highly recommended.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. I find the best way to ensure the noodles don’t overcook when reheating is to warm in the microwave, vs reheating in a pot on the stove.
Can I Freeze This Recipe?
Cooked gluten free pasta typically does not hold up well to freezing then thawing. That said, you can prepare this goulash recipe as written, stopping shy of adding the pasta. Cool completely, then ladle the sauce into a freezer bag and freeze flat.
Thaw in the fridge 24 hours before you plan on serving it then pour the contents of the bag into a pot, bring to a boil, add the noodles, and continue to cook per recipe instructions!
More Easy One Pot Meals
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- One Pot Chicken and Rice
- Beef & Veggie Enchilada Skillet
- Skillet Shepherd’s Pie
- Cheesy Chicken Burrito Skillet
- One Pot Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie
- Cheesy Gnocchi Florentine
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 large shallot or small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 8 shakes gluten free worcestershire sauce, ~1/2 Tablespoon
- 1 teaspoon + extra dash homemade seasoned salt
- pepper
- 1-1/2 cups chicken or beef broth
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 15 oz can petite diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup gluten free elbow noodles, uncooked
Directions
- Heat a large skillet with high sides or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef, shallot or onion, and garlic then break beef up as it cooks. Season with worcestershire sauce, a dash of homemade seasoned salt, and pepper, then brown. Drain if necesary then return beef mixture to the skillet.
- Add remaining teaspoon seasoned salt, broth, tomato products, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf then turn heat up to bring liquid to a simmer. Turn heat down to medium/medium-low then simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add elbow noodles then continue to simmer, stirring often, until noodles are tender, 12-14 minutes, turning the heat down slightly near the end to maintain a very gentle simmer. Remove bay leaf then taste and add additional seasoned salt and/or pepper if desired. Serve.
Notes
- Click here for my Homemade Seasoned Salt recipe.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I made this last night for dinner & it was a HUGE hit! So delicious and easy!
Amazing!! So glad you loved it, Ashley, and thanks for your recipe review and star rating, too!
What brand of gluten-free pasta do you use? I am struggling finding one that taste good the second day.
I like Barilla Gluten Free elbows for this dish!
Broth can contain wheat or gluten so better check ingredients or make your own.
My picky two year old gobbled this up! My husband and I loved it, too. I added a ton of fresh, chopped spinach to get some greens.
Thrilled to hear that, Michelle! I’ve taken to adding frozen riced cauliflower in with the ground beef while it’s browning to pump up the vegetables too!
Hi, I had a problem with the pasta cooking. I used penne instead of elbows. could that be the issue? It’s taken longer then the time you’ve stated in the recipe. thanks!
Hi Michelle! Penne usually takes 9-11 minutes to cook while elbows are generally in the 6-8 minute range.
I made this recipe last night, adjusted the oregano to my taste, and it turned out fabulous. My husband commented on how the sauce was rich in flavor and he wants me to make it again.
I saved this to my bookmarks when you posted it but never made it. I was browsing them today looking for something to make for supper when I settled on this. I wasn’t sure I had all the ingredients, but turns out I did! The diced tomatoes were Italian style, and I added a little riced cauliflower to the meat to see if the kids could tell. They were a little tired from their day but both ended up eating it! I’ve been following you for years and just want to say thank you for creating meals that are healthy, easy to follow, and taste yummy!
SO happy to hear this, Lindsay! This is a dish I turn to often as well because I always have the ingredients, and my kids inhale it! Thanks for your feedback!!
We will be having this every week!
I love all your recipes. I just made this and my 2yo who we struggle to get him to eat dinne is eating it. THANK YOU.
I can relate! My picky 2 year old inhales this too! Happy you could find a recipe that works for your family, Susanna!
this was WOW, i doubled, i would recommend adding maybe 1/2 cup less of the broth if doubling!!! Put some in the feeezer and made a couple lunches out of it. Also i did not use gluten free products
This was excellent! The only changes I made were swapping ground turkey for the beef and using regular pasta instead of GF. Super easy and turned out perfectly!
Not sure why, but my mom always added a can of green beans to our goulash. It seems odd in a dish with Italian seasonings, but it’s actually really good!
Ooo, I like that idea!
I made this last night for dinner. Loved it! Tasty & filling. Great recipe.