One Pot American Goulash Recipe (2024)

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Some call this dish American chop suey, but in my neighborhood, there is nothing better than a good old-fashioned one pot American Goulash recipe. Perfect for slow-simmering on a lazy afternoon, this dinner features simple ingredients that come together quickly and in a single pot, making for easy prep and cleanup. Full of pantry staples and fresh vegetables, this American-style goulash is hearty, flavorful, and comfort food to enjoy all year long. Just like Grandma used to make, get ready to gather around the table for this feast of a meal, and enjoy some family time tonight!

One Pot American Goulash Recipe (1)

A Family Recipe

In all honesty, I never really appreciated American goulash until I was an adult.

I was living in Mesa in a complex across from my grandparents, and one day I stopped by to visit with Granny and almost died from hunger as soon as I caught a whiff of what she was making.

It was so good, you guys. She had the pan simmering on the stove for hours, filling up the condo with warm, inviting scents of deliciousness. And since that day, over five years ago now, I’ve been trying to nail her recipe.

One Pot American Goulash Recipe (2)

Goulash vs Chop Suey

In the shortest sense, they are the same dish!

  • Distant cousins to Hungarian goulash, which is a dinner of thick tomato sauce with ground beef and paprika
  • Modern varieties use more Italian seasonings
  • American Chop Suey is generally found along the east coast, American Goulash in the midwest

American chop suey actually contained rice before pasta, giving it the vaguely Chinese flair it takes its name from.

One Pot American Goulash Recipe (3)One Pot American Goulash Recipe (4)

How Do You Make American Goulash

What I really love about this dish is that you can make it in one pot!

  • Brown the ground beef first
  • Add the veggies and cook until soft
  • Add the remaining ingredients minus the macaroni
  • Simmer, simmer, simmer, and simmer some more!

One Pot American Goulash Recipe (5)One Pot American Goulash Recipe (6)

Can You Freeze American Goulash?

The short answer isyes!

But, if you’re planning on freezing, there are some simple modifications you will want to make to ensure this old-fashioned goulash is truly freezer-friendly.

  • Pasta turns to mush if frozen, so don’t add the pasta to the main pot
  • Instead, cook pasta separately and add to the goulash later, before serving
  • Seal pasta-less goulash in freezer bags or containers that are air-tight, in small batches

You could also choose to cook the pasta in the reheated goulash, to allow the pasta to absorb the flavors like it would if you weren’t making it for freezer prep. In which case I usually add a small amount of extra water (maybe ½ cup) to ensure there is enough moisture available to properly cook the macaroni.

One Pot American Goulash Recipe (7)

One Pot American Goulash Recipe

No matter the season, this one pot American goulash recipe is a staple comfort food that comes together quickly and uses simple ingredients to make a hearty meal for a family dinner.

If you like this recipe, please give it a 5 star rating!

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One Pot American Goulash Recipe (8)

Ont Pot American Goulash Recipe

Just like Grandma used to make, some call this dish American chop suey, but in my neighborhood, there is nothing better than a good old-fashioned one pot American Goulash recipe. Perfect for slow-simmering on a lazy afternoon, this dinner features simple ingredients that come together quickly and in a single pot, making for easy prep and cleanup. Full of pantry staples and fresh vegetables, this American-style goulash is hearty, flavorful, and comfort food to enjoy all year long.

4.20 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner, Soup

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 167kcal

Author: Karly Gomez

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking the meat up as it cooks, until browned, about 6 minutes. Add the onion, bell pepper, and carrot, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.

  • Add all the remaining ingredients, except the macaroni, and stir gently to combine. Cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes.

  • Stir in the macaroni, cover once more, and let simmer for another additional 20 minutes, or until the macaroni is tender. Remove from heat, uncover, and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 393mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2760IU | Vitamin C: 18.9mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2.3mg

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About Karly

From her childhood home in Southern Minnesota, Karly embraces the crazy of everyday life by creating delicious dishes her family and friends love, while experimenting with new flavors and techniques and photographing the results. Karly’s love for beautiful foods and joy for creating is infectious to all who meet her.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Julia W says

    One Pot American Goulash Recipe (10)
    Very simple to make and very tasty. We try to limit carbs for weight loss and this recipe has a small amount of pasta so we can enjoy a moderate bit of pasta and not totally get off track. Keeping this one.

    Reply

  2. Richard Moran says

    One Pot American Goulash Recipe (11)
    This wasn’t good. By putting the macaroni in with the mixture it tasted like mashed potatoes with tomatoes and hamburger. Not for our family.

    Reply

  3. Nonny says

    One Pot American Goulash Recipe (12)
    My family loved this goulash!
    It’s what we call a “keeper”
    Meaning we will make this again 😊

    Reply

  4. wilhelmina says

    One Pot American Goulash Recipe (13)
    Goulash is always a reliable winner at our house!

    Reply

  5. Jillian Wade says

    One Pot American Goulash Recipe (14)
    Now this is some serious comfort food, so delicious!

    Reply

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One Pot American Goulash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is American goulash different? ›

American goulash is a one-pot dish of ground beef, pasta (often elbow macaroni), tomatoes and cheese. Sometimes it includes paprika, like its Hungarian counterpart. Since American goulash calls for ground beef, it cooks much faster than Hungarian goulash which relies on low-and-slow cooking to render the beef tender.

What is the difference between goulash and 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.

Is hamburger helper just goulash? ›

Is goulash the same as Hamburger Helper? Almost! This American goulash is made with ground beef and macaroni pasta in a tomato-y sauce which are all characteristics of the Hamburger Helper. However, goulash is more heavily spiced and tomato-focused while Hamburger Helper tends to be creamier, and cheesier.

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.

Are beefaroni and goulash the same thing? ›

If American Goulash is unfamiliar, you might have called this “beefaroni” as a kid. Either way, if you've never made this dish from scratch, get ready to lick the bowl clean! It's flavorful and hearty, and best of all, you can have it on the table in less than 30 minutes with only one pot to wash afterwards!

What are the two types of goulash? ›

Hungarian goulash and American goulash. Hungarian goulash is a thick soup with meat and vegetables, usually seasoned with paprika. American goulash is very different. It generally has tomato sauce, macaroni and beef.

Why do people put sugar in goulash? ›

It's subtle but if you've been making Goulash without Worcestershire sauce and feel like it's been missing something, this just might be what's missing! A tablespoon of sugar. Because that's what grandma did and that's because it perfectly balances out the acidic tomatoes and peppers.

What do you serve 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.

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? ›

Goulash is a stew, and stroganoff is a sauce

Stroganoff, on the other hand, is pan-fried on the stove and consists of steak, mushrooms, and onions that are tossed with a sauce made of brandy and sour cream. It's traditionally served over rice instead of noodles.

What is technically 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. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.

Can you freeze homemade goulash? ›

Yes! This One Pot American Goulash recipe is very freezer-friendly. Just make sure to cool the goulash completely in the refrigerator first, then transfer to the freezer for long term storage. I suggest freezing goulash for three months maximum.

How to thicken goulash? ›

Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking. Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil. This will cook out the flour taste and allow the starch to swell.

How to get goulash tender? ›

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.

Why is it called American goulash? ›

American goulash is usually referred to in the midwestern and southern United States as simply "goulash". As a descendant, of sorts, of Hungarian goulash, the only real connection seems to be the name, and the inclusion of beef and paprika.

How did American goulash originate? ›

United States and Canada

As a descendant, of sorts, of Hungarian goulash, it probably originated as a variation of the Hungarian bográcsgulyás which mixes all the ingredients together in the end.

What country eats the most goulash? ›

The national dish of Hungary! Boldly flavoured with stacks of paprika, lots of onion, garlic and capsicum/bell peppers, with fall apart hunks of beef. It's sort of a stew, sort of a soup.

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