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Home » Soup » Old Fashioned Goulash

Old Fashioned Goulash

Mar 13, 2020 · 84 Comments

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Old Fashioned Goulash
Old Fashioned Goulash

Old Fashioned Goulash is a deliciously simple recipe with ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni. You may have eaten this retro Goulash recipe as a kid. It is an easy weeknight dinner to make, and very kid friendly!

Old Fashioned Goulash

Old Fashioned Goulash

When it comes to retro comfort food recipes, Goulash is one of my top 5 favorites!

This simple one-pot, stove top soup/casserole made of essentially meat, tomatoes and noodles just manages to hit the spot.

As a kid I looked forward to when mom made this goulash recipe.

Old Fashioned Goulash

What It Goulash?

Goulash is essentially a soup made with meat and vegetables, and is usually seasoned with paprika as well as other spices.

It originated in Hungary hundreds of years ago. Goulash is one of the official national dishes of Hungary and is even a symbol of that country.

So that is the official definition, but here in America, this iconic recipe took a turn…

Moms in the USA used what they had on hand, that is why Goulash is very economical. Ground beef, pasta, and tomatoes became the 3 main ingredients.

You can stretch this recipe to feed a large family just by adding a bit more of certain ingredients like meat, pasta, and water/broth.

Old Fashioned Goulash is easy to make. Here are the steps:

Old Fashioned Goulash
Making Goulash
making Goulash

Even though goulash is considered a soup by most people, I prefer it thicker, more like a pasta dish.

If you like yours more like a soup, you can simply increase the beef broth by 1 cup or so.

Old Fashioned Goulash

What does Goulash Taste Like?

To me it tastes a lot like spaghetti. There is paprika in it, which does change the taste a little.

Also, I like the texture of goulash more than spaghetti because of the noodle to meat ratio and shape of the macaroni.

Its consistency is more like a casserole, but you can add extra liquid to make it the soup it is known to be..

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Old Fashioned Goulash

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Old Fashioned Goulash

Old Fashioned Goulash

Old Fashioned Goulash is a deliciously simple recipe with ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni. You may have eaten this retro Goulash recipe as a kid.
4.91 from 82 votes
Print Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy goulash recipe, goulash recipe, one-pot-goulash
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 522kcal
Author: Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 lbs Lean Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
  • 1 large Yellow Onion, diced
  • 3 large cloves Garlic, pressed or finely minced
  • 2 large Bay Leaves
  • 1 cup Low Sodium Beef Broth* (chicken broth if using ground turkey)
  • 2 - 14.5-ounce cans Diced Tomatoes with juice, or stewed tomatoes
  • 2 - 15-ounce cans Tomato Sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Low Sodium Soy Sauce (or Worcestershire sauce)
  • 2 teaspoons Seasoned Salt (such as Johnny's®)
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
  • 1 Tablespoon Paprika
  • 2 cups Uncooked Small Elbow Macaroni

Instructions

  • Heat a dutch oven or soup pot on med-high heat. When it is hot, add the oil, then add the ground beef or turkey. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned. About 10 minutes. Spoon off some of the excess fat.
  • Add the diced onion, garlic, and bay leaves. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, soy sauce, seasoned salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Stir well.
  • Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Stir in the macaroni noodles (uncooked), cover and cook for 15-25 minutes, or until pasta is cooked.
  • Remove and discard bay leaves, then serve.

Notes

*If you like your goulash more like a soup, you can simply increase the beef broth by 1 cup or so.

Nutrition

Calories: 522kcal

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica Shipley says

    May 25, 2022 at 2:05 pm

    5 stars
    Comfort food at its finest!
    This recipe is on regular rotation in our home as it is requested often. No need to change a thing this recipe is perfect as it is.

    Reply
  2. Scarlett says

    March 15, 2022 at 9:23 pm

    5 stars
    What the heck! This is so good. We added a can of 28oz crushed tomatoes (drained) then squished them for some extra umph also subbed smoked paprika and added 1sp of cayenne. Oh! Half and half of ground hot Sausage and beef. We like the spice. It’s perfect and plan on freezing leftovers. Like grandma makes 🙂

    Reply
  3. Barbara says

    March 09, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    5 stars
    Loved this! I halved the recipe because I only had an 8oz box of elbow macaroni. I used 1 can of italian diced tomatoes and added 1 chopped zucchini. I also used the full 1 cup of broth because I knew the liquid would be needed to cook the pasta. I cooked the pasta step for 15 minutes and it was perfectly al dente’, not mushy at all. Before serving I stirred in about a cup of sour cream which added a subtle creamy texture that I really like. This recipe is definitely a keeper!

    Reply
  4. Krystal says

    March 07, 2022 at 3:44 pm

    4 stars
    I regret adding the paprika. Ilfor me 1 tbs was too much. I think next time I’ll leave it out. My daughter wouldn’t eat it. Otherwise it’s great.

    Reply
    • Sandy says

      March 11, 2022 at 10:43 pm

      What kind of paprika did you use? It should not have made this taste strong or hot unless you have a hot paprika.

      Reply
  5. Sharon says

    February 28, 2022 at 10:01 am

    5 stars
    What can I make with the left overs? It was delicious.

    Reply
    • Sandy says

      February 28, 2022 at 6:58 pm

      I’m not sure what you could make with the leftovers… Maybe add some super softened cream cheese?

      Reply
      • Jennyjennybobenny says

        April 26, 2022 at 4:32 pm

        5 stars
        Add mashed potatoes on top and make shepherds pie

  6. Terry B. says

    February 22, 2022 at 10:36 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely fantastic! My problem is typically finding a recipe I can cut in half. Being empty nesters it’s hard to cook for two. Now that the kids are gone I don’t care to make a full recipe. This one was a game changer! I’ll keep this one handy. Today was cold & windy and a prefect day for goulash.

    Reply
  7. Jessica says

    February 15, 2022 at 3:53 pm

    5 stars
    This was delicious!! I like to use canned stewed tomatoes and also add some Velveeta cheese at the end. Helps my husband forget about the chunks of tomatoes 😉

    Reply
  8. Beth says

    February 13, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    5 stars
    This is absolutely delicious! I have made a version of goulash for years, but never followed a recipe. I’m so glad I found this. Yum

    Reply
  9. Barbara says

    February 10, 2022 at 9:44 am

    4 stars
    I have made goulash similar to this recipe. Difference is i do NOT like the taste bay leaf gives food so that is out. I have also added a can of corn to mine, as I saw it done at our favorite dining joint one time. Corn didn’t add much flavor just texture and color. I love this kind of meal made to be eaten with a fork.

    Reply
  10. Tracy Scott says

    February 06, 2022 at 4:04 pm

    5 stars
    Awesome recipe. Kids favorite!

    Reply
  11. Kimberly says

    February 04, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    5 stars
    Just like what my mom would make.

    Reply
  12. Lea says

    February 04, 2022 at 11:04 am

    5 stars
    So good!

    Reply
  13. Sharon Seiber says

    January 23, 2022 at 1:24 pm

    5 stars
    I was craving goulash and had not made it in long time due to one of my sons having a tomato allergy. So I made it and made him something different. I am looking forward to eating goulash for Supper! This recipe is like mine so am going to really enjoy it! I have already been snacking on it and it’s delicious!

    Reply
  14. Gary B. says

    December 27, 2021 at 7:10 am

    5 stars
    This turned out pretty good. I cut the recipe in half but it made enough for a couple of meals.

    Reply
  15. Joyce says

    December 22, 2021 at 4:48 am

    5 stars
    Goulash was awesome. Great flavor. Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply
  16. Jackie Kevin Gaines says

    December 08, 2021 at 9:29 am

    5 stars
    Good

    Reply
    • Marlena Wyatt says

      January 05, 2022 at 1:26 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this for many years. Back when my kids were young, 40+ years they wouldn’t go for ‘goulash’ so I called it cowboy food. They fell for it and are still eating it. I add garlic bread with it.

      Reply
  17. Beth says

    December 05, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    5 stars
    Halved the recipe and used ground turkey, otherwise followed the recipe with no changes, my husband and I loved it!

    Reply
  18. CAROL G NYE says

    November 22, 2021 at 3:25 pm

    This the way I have made goulash, for years!!

    Reply
  19. Michelle G says

    November 02, 2021 at 8:22 am

    5 stars
    I made it for a bunch of men after their meeting at local VFW. I made it just like yours and it was really good. I was told that next time I need a double batch. They wiped me out. Recommend using a crockpot bag for easy cleaning… Thanks

    Reply
  20. Carolyn Haak says

    October 02, 2021 at 8:12 am

    5 stars
    Very good. Reminds me of home. We add zucchini to it.

    Reply
  21. Sarah says

    September 23, 2021 at 9:52 am

    5 stars
    I own a bakery/homemade meals kitchen and my customers LOVE this recipe! Thank you!!
    SARAH’NDIPITY Eats & Treats

    Reply
  22. Jeannette says

    September 21, 2021 at 6:38 pm

    5 stars
    This was so good! I made it with sweet sausage because the store didn’t have hamburg (I went shopping in the late afternoon, that might be why or they restocked after I left?!) . I didn’t add any of the seasonings or the soy sauce. I am going to keep this recipe for when I have to take someone a meal and for church potlucks. Thank you for this recipe! 😊😊

    Reply
  23. Krissy says

    September 12, 2021 at 3:49 pm

    5 stars
    Is had been craving goulash since I saw it in a store. Set out to find a recipe and and chose this one and made this for the first time today. All I did different was add 1 large green pepper and followed the recipe! It was delicious and rich in flavor and just what I imagined it would taste like. Thanks for sharing. Will be making again.

    Reply
  24. DNS says

    September 08, 2021 at 5:27 pm

    5 stars
    Awesome recipe! So simple but sooo good! A family favorite

    Reply
  25. Shari Olson says

    August 29, 2021 at 3:29 pm

    5 stars
    Very good recipe!

    Reply
  26. Crystal Adkins says

    August 28, 2021 at 8:15 pm

    5 stars
    I made this tonight I added corn tho. It was very good, next time I think I will add some kidney beans or pinto.

    Reply
  27. Paul says

    August 25, 2021 at 2:25 pm

    5 stars
    Definitely a keeper.

    Reply
  28. Bregitta says

    August 25, 2021 at 11:11 am

    5 stars
    Made this for a church potluck and it was a huge hit. Everyone said it brought many memories of their mother’s cooking a version of this while growing up. Thank you so much for a trip down memory lane.

    Reply
  29. Glyna M Burton says

    August 16, 2021 at 3:59 pm

    5 stars
    I love to find recipes that ” take me back to childhood days and Grandma”. This definitely does that!

    Reply
  30. Karen Johnson says

    August 08, 2021 at 2:13 pm

    5 stars
    It reminded me of my childhood days. Husband loved it. Having biscuits with it. Yum!!!

    Reply
  31. Teresa Fontenot says

    July 26, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    5 stars
    This goulash was so good ! It was easy to make and everyone loved it !

    Reply
  32. Kimberly Nelson says

    July 12, 2021 at 3:29 am

    5 stars
    I liked the ingredients in your recipe i just added some vegetables to it my mother used to add them…I loved the beef broth though hadn’t ever used that or soy sauce, but it was delicious 😋 thank you.

    Reply
  33. Lisa says

    June 28, 2021 at 3:19 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! I used fire roasted tomatoes, smoked paprika, & a touch of cayenne. I cut the recipe in 1/2 because there is only 2 of us. There was plenty for us to eat 2 meals with the recipe cut in 1/2.

    Reply
  34. Elane says

    June 14, 2021 at 5:29 am

    5 stars
    I made this last night!!!! I followed the recipe exactly….except for the bay leafs only because I didn’t have any. And it was absolutely wonderful. I will definitely be making again

    Reply
  35. Kathleen M says

    June 02, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    5 stars
    Very good reminds me of mama’s…only difference she added corn!

    Reply
  36. CTGirl717 says

    May 26, 2021 at 5:11 pm

    5 stars
    We really liked it! Left out the tomatoes simply because I didn’t have any and added a bit of broth at the end to give the noodles a little more liquid to cook. Very flavorful and easy to make. Even my picky girls liked it!

    Reply
    • CTGirl717 says

      May 26, 2021 at 5:13 pm

      5 stars
      Forgot to rate it in my original post!

      Reply
  37. Annie Lee Pearce says

    May 12, 2021 at 4:48 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe for my family today.It was delicious. We had 5 daughters and I made it a lot when they were young. My one daughter said she didn’t remember it being so good. I will be making it again soon. We all loved it.

    Reply
  38. Ellen Puckett says

    April 17, 2021 at 7:16 pm

    5 stars
    I ate at home.i can not wait to have it again.

    Reply
  39. Glen Turton says

    March 22, 2021 at 5:14 pm

    5 stars
    This is always a treat to make. Never ceases to please one and all
    I add a little spice for heat and only one cup of elbow macaroni instead of 2 and 2 cups of broth not one

    Reply
  40. Patty King says

    February 09, 2021 at 9:11 am

    5 stars
    I made this last night and every one in my house loved it. The only changed I made was using smoked paprika which gave it a smokey flavor.

    Reply
    • Toni Schmitz says

      March 11, 2021 at 12:38 am

      5 stars
      This is an excellent dish that my family ate for years while I was growing up. Make sure to remove the bay leaves before eating. You can use regular paprika if you don’t have smoked. It doesn’t make that much of a difference. My mother always added a can of kidneys beans. I use the light red kidney beans but dark or light is fine. If kidney beans bother your stomach just use navy bean or pinto bean. Those are easier on the stomach. This is definitely a 5 star dish and a awesome comfort food dish.

      Reply
      • Lisa Maraszek says

        July 13, 2021 at 3:22 pm

        YES!! always removing the bay leaves!! Very important. Talk about comfort food!!

      • Lisa E. says

        February 06, 2022 at 1:11 pm

        4 stars
        Yes! Finally someone else adds kidney beans! I’ve always made it that way. because that’s how my mama made it 😊

  41. Peter Wojcik says

    January 30, 2021 at 12:08 pm

    5 stars
    Very good!

    Reply
  42. Barb says

    January 30, 2021 at 5:33 am

    5 stars
    My family LOVED it😋

    Reply
  43. Melinda Taylor says

    January 24, 2021 at 11:04 am

    5 stars
    I’ve made this before and it was great! Making it again now.

    Reply
  44. Don says

    January 17, 2021 at 6:51 pm

    4 stars
    A little starchy will cook and drain pasta separately

    Reply
    • mikey says

      March 26, 2021 at 1:06 pm

      5 stars
      pasta taste better cooked in same pot absorbs tomato flavor….IMHo better

      Reply
  45. Ellen says

    January 10, 2021 at 10:21 pm

    5 stars
    I use to make it 50 yrs ago and forgot how ty very good

    Reply
  46. Kimberly Bowen says

    December 26, 2020 at 4:18 pm

    5 stars
    Made tonight with ground venison burger. Added small diced celery for a little more texture, and sauteed it down with the onion when added. Also added some chili powder and cayenne powder for a little more tangy depth, but this is a GREAT RECIPE!

    Reply
  47. Ana says

    December 24, 2020 at 1:52 pm

    5 stars
    So yummy!!!

    Reply
    • Pat Black says

      February 20, 2021 at 2:14 pm

      5 stars
      This is thr first I have tried this recipe and it is delicious.

      Reply
  48. Jacque Peach says

    December 18, 2020 at 11:14 am

    5 stars
    This is the best goulash recipe that I have found. I never really liked it until I found your recipe. I have made this several times already.

    Reply
  49. Dawn says

    December 10, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    5 stars
    I made in my Crockpot multi cooker/steamer…. it was fantastic next time only cook noodles 10 to 15 minutes.

    Reply
  50. Glen Turton says

    December 01, 2020 at 3:36 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve made this a 1/2 dz times already in the last two months. Lol, yes I tweaked it but gosh the simple ease and incredible flavor comes from the core recipe.
    Make it and thank yourself later.

    Glen Turton

    Reply
  51. Kay Rosd says

    December 01, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight and it was wonderful. We are going t have the leftovers tomorrow. Very easy, fast, and no strange ingredients. Thanks, for posting, it’s a keeper!

    Reply
  52. Sara Roberts says

    November 20, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this again and it never disappoints! Everyone in the family loves it! It thickened up nicely and I love that! Added cheese and wallah! Delicious! Great recipe!

    Reply
  53. Glen Turton says

    November 14, 2020 at 9:55 am

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. I have made a couple of tweaks to my taste as follows :
    Fire roasted diced tomatoes (Kroger)
    I add one small can of Rotel diced chili’s (mild)
    Only one (1) cup of elbow macaroni , I prefer a tad more liquid than the result you get with 2 cups of elbow macaroni
    Italian seasonings 1 tbs
    A dusting of Slap yo Mama seasoning instead of seasoned salt
    It’s so easy to make and incredibly delicious
    Oh yeah I use ground turkey instead of beef, far less grease.
    Any questions you can email me at thehatguy7@aol.com
    I’ll do my best to help or answer questions

    Glen Turton

    Reply
  54. Teresa Boyd says

    November 11, 2020 at 12:17 pm

    5 stars
    Love this recipe,very filling and yummy, just add got rolls or cornbread muffins for a great cold weather meal

    Reply
  55. Carol Jeney says

    November 09, 2020 at 4:47 pm

    5 stars
    This is a version of my mom’s back in the day! She added green peppers and a little Worcestershire instead of soy sauce.
    It’s a great recipe!! Kudos!
    I always laugh when I rarely make it because my husband is from Hungary where we’ve obviously had authentic Gulyas Leves soup. Almost more like stew w/o carrots. And of course green peppers and Lesco -onions and Paprika powder stewing in oil.

    Reply
    • Joseph says

      February 09, 2022 at 5:54 pm

      5 stars
      It tastes like my mom’s. We enjoyed it.

      Reply
  56. Cheryl says

    November 05, 2020 at 5:17 pm

    5 stars
    My family loved it!

    Reply
  57. Lauren Freeze says

    November 04, 2020 at 11:46 am

    5 stars
    Love the recipe!

    Reply
  58. Kathy says

    October 27, 2020 at 2:50 pm

    4 stars
    I think next time I will leave out the bay leaf. Otherwise it was pretty good.

    Reply
  59. Gerianne says

    October 17, 2020 at 4:39 pm

    5 stars
    So yummy! We stuffed ourselves unconscious.
    Thank you!

    Reply
  60. Linda says

    October 14, 2020 at 11:36 am

    5 stars
    This is the first recipe of goulosh that looks like what my family makes. I thought maybe it was a regional thing; were from northern Ky. Anyway it was grest to see And I know its great. Only difference is we use a lot of diced green pepper also. Thanks for sharing. I like it thick also.

    Reply
  61. Deanna says

    October 08, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    4 stars
    My husband and I thought this was a bit too salty. I will just adjust it next time..

    Reply
  62. Carla says

    October 05, 2020 at 2:37 pm

    5 stars
    Used ground venison . Excellent flavor. Great cold weather comfort food.

    Reply
  63. Vicki Pitts says

    September 16, 2020 at 10:23 am

    5 stars
    It turned out perfect. Tasted just like my granny’s.

    Reply
  64. Chloe Morgan says

    September 10, 2020 at 5:11 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy recipe! I added cheese and ate on it for a week!

    Reply
  65. RJ Foster says

    September 10, 2020 at 10:24 am

    5 stars
    Best goulash I’ve ever had! I will be making this happen n a regular basis. Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  66. RJ Foster says

    September 06, 2020 at 5:13 pm

    5 stars
    Just made for the first time. Absolutely delish!! Will definitely keep this in the regular rotation 😉😉

    Reply
  67. Carolyn says

    August 22, 2020 at 4:46 pm

    5 stars
    TASTY!!! Will make again. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  68. Cynthia Green says

    August 22, 2020 at 10:10 am

    5 stars
    Excellent as written. Appreciated the simple ess of the website. Thank you

    Reply
  69. Patricia Pierse says

    August 04, 2020 at 2:48 pm

    5 stars
    Simmering the sauce now. Can’t wait to try the finished recipe but the sauce is awesome.

    Reply
  70. Karon graf says

    July 19, 2020 at 2:06 pm

    4 stars
    Husband love it…thanks!

    Reply
  71. Josh says

    July 15, 2020 at 6:40 pm

    5 stars
    I did not have 100% of the ingredients but this dish was amazing! Will definitely make again! Thanks for sharing A+++++

    Reply
  72. Joe says

    June 30, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this tonight and it tasted awesome

    Reply
  73. Harley says

    June 28, 2020 at 5:48 pm

    5 stars
    Little bit extra pepper taste. But it was GREAT

    Reply

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