Ground Beef Goulash Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

November 12, 2019December 2, 2022

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Ground Beef Goulash might be the easiest, family-pleasing meal of all time. The combination of ground beef, tomatoes, elbow macaroni and a handful of other easy ingredients comes together to create the perfect marriage of flavors. Believe us when we say, this recipe is a keeper.

American Goulash Ingredients

• Ground Beef
• Onion
• Salt and Pepper
• Minced Garlic
• Elbow Macaroni
• Stewed Tomatoes
• Tomato Sauce
• Sugar
• Italian Seasoning

Ground Beef Goulash

Our Easy Old Fashioned Ground Beef Goulash is an American version of goulash, not the other type of goulash which is Hungarian consisting of beef stew meat, paprika and sour cream.

American Goulash comes in many variations but almost all have ground beef, elbow macaroni and some type of tomatoes. Truth be told, my goulash recipe is never the same. I use whatever type of canned tomatoes I have at the time – stewed tomatoes, peeled tomatoes, petite diced tomatoes, they all work.

Classic Goulash Recipe

This classic goulash recipe is the most requested dinner from my three children. No complaining, no refusing to eat. Everyone is scarfing it down because it’s delicious, and the leftovers get even tastier after a couple days. My family tops our ground beef goulash with grated Parmesan cheese.

Our family loves this dish so much, I put together an Instant Pot version for those times I need to get dinner on the table even quicker! My Instant Pot American Goulash recipe is also a keeper.

We also have a taco-inspired version – Mexican Goulash. Does your family love Manwich? We have a Sloppy Joe Goulash featuring that classic too! If you want a meatless option, try our Eggplant Goulash recipe.

How to Make Old Fashioned Goulash Recipe:

1. Brown ground beef and diced onions over medium heat until the meat is cooked and the onions are soft; season with salt and pepper. Stir garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to a minute.
2. Add undrained tomatoes to the meat mixture, and break up the tomatoes with a spoon or spatula.
3. Add all remaining ingredients, and cook over medium heat until the elbow macaroni is cooked through.

For the full recipe and ingredient list for American Chop Suey, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Notes About American Goulash with Ground Beef:

• This recipe has many names: goulash, American goulash, and American chop suey to name a few.
• American goulash is a one pot meal that features ground beef, tomatoes, and elbow macaroni as the main ingredients.
• Use whatever canned tomatoes you have on hand: stewed, diced, petite diced, peeled. If you use peeled or stewed, you may want to chop them up with a spoon so you don’t have large chunks of tomatoes.
• Tomatoes are acidic so adding a little sugar to this dish balances it out. It’s an old trick from Grandma, so trust us on this!
• Add other ingredients like chopped bell pepper or corn if desired.
• My American Chop Suey recipe calls for Italian seasoning. What is Italian seasoning? It’s a seasoning blend that usually contains basil, oregano, thyme. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, make your own blend at home. I usually throw some dried parsley in with my blend.
• Do your kids love Italian inspired dinners? Try our Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce, Spaghetti Pie and Extra Cheesy Lasagna.

One Pot Meal Recipes

We love meals that can be made in just one dish, and love sharing them with you. Not only is it extremely easy to make these types of meals, it also makes clean up a breeze. So try some more of our favorite One Pot Meals:

• Skillet Smoked Sausage and Cabbage
• Easy Chipped Beef Gravy or Creamed Chipped Beef
• Spanish Chicken and Rice
• Beef Pot Pie
• One Pot Homemade Frisco Melt Hamburger Helper
• Grandma’s Macaroni and Tomatoes

Ground Beef Recipes

Recipes featuring ground beef (or hamburger as our family calls it) are always a hit in our house. Ground beef is versatile, and it can go into casseroles, soups, one pot meals or on sandwiches! Here are some of our favorite hamburger recipes.

Vegetable Soup with Ground Beef and V8 Juice

Low-Carb Baked Spaghetti Squash Casserole with Ground Beef

Stove Top Vintage Barbecue Burgers

Mom’s Hamburger Gravy

Cheeseburger Quiche

Frisco Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef

Linking up to Meal Plan Monday.