This Easy American Goulash recipe is pure comfort food and very budget-friendly. You only need one pot and 30 minutes of time, making it perfect for busy weeknights!
This American Goulash recipe was developed by me for Muir Glen. All opinions are 100% my own. Get all the products featured in this post at your local Whole Foods Market. Thank you for helping to support the brands that I love and make Belly Full possible!
Goulash is such an easy recipe to make, super delicious, and fun to say, no? Well, at least my kids think so.
What is Goulash?
This particular recipe is for American Goulash (also known as American Chop Suey and similar to my popular Chili Mac), made with ground beef, macaroni pasta, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken stock, cheese, and Italian seasonings. It’s not to be confused with traditional Hungarian Goulash, which is more of a stew made with chunks of meat and vegetables.
Even though American Goulash is simple, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use top-notch ingredients. I’m so excited to have partnered up with Muir Glen today and incorporate their high quality canned diced tomatoes into this dish.
In order to grow a better tasting tomato, Muir Glen believes it must be grown organically. Their farmers in the Sacramento Valley of California work together with local pollinators (aka bees!) to keep a healthy ecosystem and produce the best tomatoes possible. However, not every tomato is good enough for the cans, which is why they have created a composting facility for any tomato waste. Muir Glen focuses on working in harmony with their environment because it’s what makes their tomatoes taste better and the planet a happier place. Huzzah!
Recipe variations
American Goulash is pretty versatile and hard to mess up. Here are some ways to vary it:
- Swap out the ground beef with ground turkey for a slightly healthier version.
- Saute some vegetables like diced carrots or green bell pepper, along with the beef and onion.
- Mix in different cheeses. We love cheddar, but you can use Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or a combination of your favorites.
- Try beef stock instead of chicken stock, for a richer flavor.
- Add more liquid for more of a soup consistency.
Can you freeze American Goulash?
Goulash freezes well, except for the cooked pasta, which becomes overcooked and mushy once thawed and reheated. If you know in advance you’ll want to freeze it, I recommend cooking the pasta separately and adding it in later as you serve it. Cooled leftovers will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in a tightly sealed container.
It’s hard to go wrong with hamburger, Muir Glenn tomatoes, and cheesy pasta. A foolproof, delicious weeknight dinner with easy clean-up. My family loves this dish and yours will, too!
You can grab all the recipe ingredients at your local Whole Foods Market – they’re currently running a promotion of buy 10 for $10 from 1/29 – 2/12. So not only do you get the best product, but also for a fantastic price! Find out where your local Whole Foods is with this store locator.
Other One Pot Meals We Love
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
How To Make This American Goulash Recipe
Easy American Goulash
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium sweet onion , diced
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- a few turns of fresh cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Muir Glen tomato paste
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups Muir Glen classic marinara sauce
- 2 cans (15 ounces each) Muir Glen diced tomatoes , undrained
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2 cups macaroni pasta , uncooked
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven or pot over medium-high. Add onion, garlic, and beef; cook until browned and no pink remains, breaking up into crumbles, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. Season with the salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in the tomato paste until combined.
- Poor in the chicken broth, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes (with their liquid), Worcestershire, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Season with a bit more salt and pepper, to taste.
- Bring to a boil and add in pasta; cover, reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook until pasta is tender, about 14 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the cheese and parsley.
- Serve immediately, garnished with additional cheese and parsley, if desired.
Nutrition
Kathleen Hunter says
Love the sauce. I make it and freeze it to use on other pasta recipes. Goulash is good flavor!!!
Barbara says
Here’s the thing! I love every form of a tomato but the actual tomato! Therefore I can’t do chunks of tomato!! I love marinara and crushed tomatoes! How can I make my this without the diced tomato?
Amy @Belly Full says
Hi Barbara! Hm. I would just leave the 2 cans of diced tomato out. Maybe sub with something else like 1 can of beans (rinsed and drained) or don’t replace at all. The recipe won’t be quite the same without them, but will still be delish!
Sharon says
Looks good, especially with Muir Glen products. They are definitely superior to others on the market.