Classic American Goulash

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American goulash is straight up, easy peasy, one-pot comfort food made from ingredients that you can pluck from the pantry!

This dish is pure Americana comfort food: Classic American Goulash.

Not to be confused with Hungarian goulash (a gorgeous dish of slow simmered beef in a rich paprika tomato sauce), this is a homey dish of ground beef and macaroni cooked in a savory tomato sauce topped with a handful of shredded cheddar.

This one-pot meal is pantry-friendly and takes me back to being a kid in the 80’s. My mom, the hero of our house, would whip up American goulash in her electric fryer (remember, it was the 80’s).

I don’t know exactly how she made hers, but I remember always thinking it was a fancy version of Hamburger Helper.

It’s funny, my mom rarely made anything from a box and yet I, (the perfect target for any jingley ad) always wanted what I was pitched on TV (in between episodes of the Dukes of Hazard and Dallas).

That white-gloved hand coaxed me into craving Hamburger Helper even though my mom was whipping up her so much tastier, from-scratch version.

Thankfully, I came to my senses and realized that her goulash was better than anything I could get from a box. And now, as I am constantly seeking pantry-friendly dishes to create for my own family, American goulash topped the list.

I channeled my inner 80’s mom and whipped up this dish with literally what I had on hand. Granted, I probably have a better stocked pantry than most given what I do for a living, but the ingredients in this dish are all easy to come by (even though my red wine stash is getting frighteningly low).

The result? A one-pot wonder! This classic American goulash did not disappoint that inner child within. A savory beefy-tomato sauce, tender macaroni and of course, a healthy handful of cheddar cheese sprinkled on top for the win.

If you’re looking for that crowd-pleasing, family-friendly, only one-pot to wash sort of meal, then this is it my friends. No white glove required!

Let’s make Classic American Goulash

1. Sauté the onion and garlic together until softened.
2. Add the ground meat and stir to break up any chunks.
3. Cook until the ground beef is well browned and drain the fat.
4. Add the tomato paste and seasonings.
5. Cook until absorbed and fragrant and add the red wine. Reduce.
6. Stir in the tomato sauce and beef stock. Cover and simmer.
7. Add the dried pasta.
8. Cook until the pasta is tender. Ladle into bowls and serve.

Tips for success

• Make sure you drain the fat after the ground meat is browned so your sauce isn’t greasy.
• Beef stock gives this dish added depth, but chicken stock can be substituted in a pinch.
• Don’t have red wine? Add a splash of red wine vinegar and a little extra stock.
• Any short pasta will work in this goulash, but I recommend corkscrew or elbow pasta.
• Serve this dish as soon as the pasta is cooked through with a healthy sprinkle of shredded cheddar for the tastiest results!

More one-pot favorites

• Mustard-Glazed Sheet Pan Chicken
• Leftover Turkey Chili
• Guinness Braised Beef Stew
• White Chicken Chili
• Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

3.67 from 3 votes

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Classic American Goulash

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

50 mins

Total Time

1 hr

 

American goulash is straight up, easy peasy, one-pot comfort food made from ingredients that you can pluck from the pantry!

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: american goulash, goulash

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 646 kcal

Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For…

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 Tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning, dried
• dash of red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 24 oz tomato sauce
• 3 cups beef stock
• 8 oz dried pasta, elbow or corkscrew
• shredded cheddar cheese, for topping

Instructions

1. Heat the oil over med/high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the onion ad saute until translucent, about 3 mins.

2. Add the garlic and saute 2 mins more. Stir in the ground beef and cook until the beef is well browned, about 10 mins.

3. Drain the fat and return the pan to the stove. Stir in the tomato paste, salt, sugar, soy suace, worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 mins.

4. Add the red wine and cook until it's reduced by half. Stir in the tomato sauce and beef stock. Simmer, covered, for 15 mins.

5. Add the pasta and cook, uncovered, for about 15 mins or until the pasta is tender.

6. Scoop the goulash into bowls and serve topped with shredded cheddar cheese if desired.

Recipe Notes

• Make sure you drain the fat after the ground meat is browned so your sauce isn’t greasy.
• Beef stock gives this dish added depth, but chicken stock can be substituted in a pinch.
• Don’t have red wine? Add a splash of red wine vinegar and a little extra stock.
• Any short pasta will work in this goulash, but I recommend corkscrew or elbow pasta.
• Serve this dish as soon as the pasta is cooked through with a healthy sprinkle of shredded cheddar for the tastiest results!

Nutrition Facts

Classic American Goulash

Amount Per Serving

Calories 646 Calories from Fat 324

% Daily Value*

Fat 36g55%

Saturated Fat 12g75%

Cholesterol 107mg36%

Sodium 1929mg84%

Potassium 1215mg35%

Carbohydrates 41g14%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 36g72%

Vitamin A 546IU11%

Vitamin C 11mg13%

Calcium 83mg8%

Iron 6mg33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.