Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (2024)

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Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (2)

The Best Goulash Recipe Ever!

Hey guys, it’s time for a Halloween-themed recipe – “ghoul” ash!

Ha ha, just kidding. Actually, goulash is a hearty, meaty stew from Hungary. It’s usually made with beef, but you can also use lamb, veal, or pork. And it’s good pretty much any time the weather is chilly.

There are lots of different ways to make goulash. The original Hungarian recipe had beef with peppers, wine, and spices (especially paprika). Grandma’s easy version added tomatoes or tomato sauce, as well as noodles. And since beef, noodles, and tomatoes go so well with cheese, my version throws in some shredded sharp cheddar – because hey, recipes are supposed to evolve, right?

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Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (3)

This takes about 40 minutes to make, but only 10 to 15 minutes of that is actual cooking time. You brown the beef and drain it, then get it simmering in a big, deep skillet (or a Dutch oven) with tomatoes, beef broth and spices. After about 10 minutes, you stir in the noodles and let them cook until they’re tender. And right before you serve it, you yank out the bay leaves, sprinkle on the cheese, and cover it just long enough to let it melt.

The finished meal is hot, savory and incredibly filling – and there’s nothing in it that the average kid wouldn’t be happy to eat. On a cold night, it warms you right up from the inside out.

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (4)

Easy Goulash Recipe

Ingredients:

2 pounds lean ground beef
2 teaspoons seasoned salt, I used Lawry’s
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15oz) cans diced tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 cups beef broth
1 (15oz) can tomato sauce
1 TB dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 large bay leaves
2 cups dry elbow noodles
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
1 and 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

NOTE: if you do not have a large, deep skillet, you can use a large pot or dutch oven.

Directions:

  1. Season beef with seasoned salt. Saute ground beef and onions in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until cooked. Drain.Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (5)
  2. Add garlic, broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, oregano, and bay leaves Stir well. Cover and allow to simmer for 10-12 minutes.Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (6)
  3. Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to skillet, stir well cover with lid and simmer for about 12-18 minutes more, or until noodles are tender.
  4. Turn off heat, remove the bay leaves, and add shredded cheddar cheese. TIP. Place lid back on until cheese is melted.Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (7)

Enjoy!Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (8)

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (9)

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Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (10)

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Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe

Author Corey Valley

The Easy Goulash Recipe is hot, savory and incredibly filling – and there’s nothing in it that the average kid wouldn’t be happy to eat.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 2 teaspoons seasoned salt, I used Lawry's
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 15oz cans diced tomatoes
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 15oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 TB dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 large bay leaves
  • 2 cups dry elbow noodles
  • Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1.5 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

Note: If you do not have a large deep skillet, you can use a large pot or dutch oven.

  • Season beef with seasoned salt. Saute ground beef and onions in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until cooked. Drain.

  • Add garlic, broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, oregano, and bay leaves Stir well. Cover and allow to simmer for 10-12 minutes.

  • Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to skillet, stir well cover with lid and simmer for about 12-18 minutes more, or until noodles are tender.

  • Turn off heat, remove the bay leaves, and add shredded cheddar cheese. TIP. Place lid back on until cheese is melted.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 587mg | Potassium: 583mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 185mg | Iron: 3.7mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

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Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (11)

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional goulash made of? ›

The basic ingredients include onions, peppers, tomatoes, meat, paprika, caraway seeds, potatoes and homemade noodles (csipetke). Wine, carrots and other ingredients are optional and reflect regional and family variations. Excepting paprikás, the Hungarian stews do not rely on flour or roux for thickening.

What is goulash sauce made of? ›

How do you make goulash? Its really simple! Start by cooking the onion and browning the beef. Then you add the beef broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, and seasonings to the pot and let it all simmer before you toss in the pasta. Once the pasta is cooked, fold in the cheese, and it's ready to serve.

What is the difference between Hungarian goulash and regular 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 the difference between American and traditional goulash? ›

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.

Why is American goulash so different? ›

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 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.

Can you buy goulash sauce? ›

Gordon's Glorious Goulash Gourmet Sauce with smoked paprika and red pepper, slow cook for a deep and desirable flavour sensation. It's Gordon hassle free way to a delicious meal time treat.

What is the difference between Ragu and goulash? ›

Often goulash is also regarded as equal with ragout. In a ragout, the pieces of meat are usually not seared before but braised immediately in broth or other liquid. Put simply, ragout = goulash without searing.

What is goulash called in the South? ›

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.

What is origin 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 do you 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.

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.

What is American goulash called? ›

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.

What is goulash called in America? ›

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.

What is the difference between Hungarian goulash and beef stew? ›

Hungarian goulash is very similar to beef stew, but there are some differences. While a typical stew consists of slow braising chunks of meat with root vegetables in a seasoned broth, goulash uses spices such as caraway, cumin, paprika, and peppers which really enhance and alter the flavor from a classic beef stew.

What do you eat with Hungarian goulash? ›

Serve with traditional accompaniments: Serve Hungarian goulash with traditional accompaniments such as bread, egg noodles, or dumplings. A dollop of sour cream and chopped fresh parsley or chives is also a popular garnish.

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