Easy American Goulash Recipe

Looking for an easy family-friendly dinner idea for busy weeknights? Try this classic American goulash recipe that is simple to make with budget-friendly ingredients for a delicious, kid-friendly meal that even picky eaters will love.

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Growing up, goulash was a staple in our home, a simple dinner with budget-friendly ingredients that was perfect for feeding our family of four. Made with ground beef, elbow macaroni, and pasta sauce, it was a hearty and delicious meal our whole family enjoyed.

Now that I have a family of my own, this easy American goulash recipe is still on rotation in my home as it’s a kid-friendly dinner that even picky eaters love. Plus, it’s perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast. It’s loaded with lots of pasta (which we love!), so it’s not as saucy as some goulash recipes, but you can always add more if you like your goulash extra saucy.

I’m sure your family will love this delicious and affordable pasta dish, as it uses just simple ingredients you may already have on hand, making it ideal for saving money on your groceries. And, although traditionally American goulash is usually described as a one-pot meal, as the pasta cooks in the sauce, my mother always made the pasta separately and added it to the ground beef and sauce mixture, so that is how I still do it today. 

Why You’ll Love This Easy Goulash Recipe

• No mushy pasta, as you cook the macaroni separately, so everything is still nice and tender, and leftovers taste even better the next day.
• An easy recipe with simple ingredients that you probably have in your pantry for a simple meal the whole family will love.
• Budget-friendly dinner idea, as it uses ground beef, pasta, and veggies for a filling dinner that doesn’t cost a lot to make.
• Perfect for feeding a large family, because it uses one pound of pasta, making it a hearty meal you can make for your family any night of the week.
• It’s customizable, as you can add mushrooms or extra cheese.
• Kid and picky eater-approved, as my boys love this tasty dish and request it for dinner often.

Looking for more easy pasta dishes for busy nights?

• Easy Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe
• Baked Ziti with Meatballs
• Shortcut Chicken Parmesan Bake
• Lazy Lasagna with Italian Sausage
• Pepperoni Pizza Casserole

Easy American Goulash Recipe

Ingredients for American Goulash

This easy classic American goulash recipe is the perfect budget-friendly family dinner idea for busy nights. The pasta is cooked separately, so it never gets mushy and can be on the table in just 30 minutes.

You will need:

• ground beef
• bell pepper
• onion
• Worcestershire sauce
• soy sauce
• pasta sauce
• Italian-style petite diced tomatoes 
• elbow macaroni
• Parmesan cheese
• garlic powder
• Italian seasoning
• salt and pepper

How to Make This Delicious Goulash Recipe

1. Boil your macaroni in salted water according to the directions on the box. Drain and set aside.
2. While the macaroni is boiling, cook your ground beef, diced bell peppers, and diced onions over medium heat until they are no longer pink, and then drain any excess grease.
3. Add the pasta sauce, diced tomatoes (with the juice), Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Mix in the pasta, sprinkle with Parmesan, and enjoy!

Variations:

• You can make this extra cheesy by adding in 1-2 cups of shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese at the end.
• Add in some mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach when cooking the onions and peppers for more veggies.
• Try adding some spice with red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
• Make this meal healthier by switching out the ground beef for ground turkey.
• If you would prefer your goulash to be more saucy, you can add in some beef broth or extra pasta sauce.
• Prefer to cook it in one pot, add your elbow macaroni directly in the sauce with an extra 2 ½ cups of beef broth.

Helpful Tips:

• Be sure to drain the extra grease after cooking the ground beef so the goulash isn’t too greasy.
• Make sure to simmer the sauce in the ground beef with the seasonings for at least 15 minutes so that the dish is more flavorful. 
• Adjust the seasonings as needed.

Storage:

• Store your leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. (We love the leftovers!) This dish is even better the next day.

You May Like:

• 27 Hearty One-Pot Ground Beef Recipes
• 18 Best Ground Beef Casserole Recipes
• Easy and Cheap Ground Beef Recipes for Families
• 22 Quick and Easy Pasta Recipes for Weeknight Dinners

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