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Home » Recipes » Main Dish » American Goulash

American Goulash

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Recipe Cost $13.34
Recipe Serving Cost $1.67
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
American Goulash is an easy dinner classic that the entire family will love. It serves 8 and costs $13.34 to make. That's just $1.67 per serving!  via @easybudgetrecipesAmerican Goulash is an easy one-pot dinner classic that the entire family loves. It's some good old fashioned comfort food.  via @easybudgetrecipesAmerican Goulash is an easy one-pot dinner classic that the entire family loves. It's some good old fashioned comfort food.  via @easybudgetrecipesAmerican Goulash is an easy dinner classic that the entire family will love. It serves 8 and costs $13.34 to make. That's just $1.67 per serving!  via @easybudgetrecipes

American Goulash is an easy one-pot dinner classic that the entire family loves. It’s some good old fashioned comfort food. 

Our American Goulash recipe serves eight and costs $13.34 to make. That’s just $1.67 per serving! 

For more crowd-pleasing easy recipes, we recommend our Machaca Burritos and our Instant Pot Pulled Pork.

An overhead close up picture of American Goulash.

American Goulash

If you need a meal to feed a crowd that won’t break the bank, we have the perfect dish for you! This recipe for American Goulash feeds a crowd! What’s even better is that you make it all in one pot to feed a crowd and have a clean kitchen. It’s like all my dreams are coming true in this American Goulash dish! 

You may hear this referred to as American Chop Suey, or maybe you call it American Goulash. Either way, we call it amazing. The tomato sauce flavors mixed with the beef and macaroni noodles bring you a hearty dish you can eat year-round. 

This American version of traditional goulash will leave you saying, “oh my goulash; I’m gonna want seconds!” Seriously, our kids and husband can never get enough of this when we make it. It is perfect for those busy nights, or when you have a get-together, you need to provide the main dish for. 

Make this American Goulash tonight, and your friends and family will tell you it is the best they have ever had!

A spoon picking up a heap of American Goulash with cheese pulls trailing behind it.

What is goulash made of?

The main ingredients of American Goulash are beef, elbow macaroni, and tomatoes. Throw in a few seasonings such as Italian seasoning, Mrs. Dash, salt, garlic, and a bay leaf, and you are on your way to having a delicious meal. 

What food goes well with goulash? 

  • 1-Hour French Bread
  • Easy Garlic Bread
  • Green Salad
  • Large Batch 1-Hour Dinner Rolls

What is the difference between spaghetti and goulash?

Spaghetti is a favorite dish with some similar ingredients. However, the noodles and sauce are cooked separately and then combined when serving. In contrast, goulash is made by cooking the noodles and sauce together in a pot. 

How much will this American Goulash cost:

RECIPE COST: $13.34

PRICE PER SERVING: $1.67

An overhead picture of all of the ingredients needed to make this American Goulash recipe.

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef – $7.20
  • 1 medium yellow onion – $0.62
  • 3 cloves garlic – $0.15
  • 3 cups water – $0
  • 28 ounce can diced tomatoes – $1.64
  • 29 ounce can tomato sauce – $1.64
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce – $0.12
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning – $0.39
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Mrs. Dash – $0.16
  • ¾ teaspoon salt – $0.01
  • 1 bay leaf – $0.03
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni – $1.38

To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.

Cook’s Tools:

  • box grater
  • chef knife
  • cutting board
  • large Pot
  • wooden spoon

The flavor and Recipe Variations:

  •  Instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey, ground pork, or Italian sausage. 

How long is this good for:

  • Serve: You can keep this at room temperature for up to 2 hours. After that, it will have to be refrigerated. 
  • Store: Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container. 
  • Freeze: You can freeze the pasta for up to 3 months in an airtight container. When reheating, you may need to spritz the goulash with water. 

How to Make American Goulash Recipe:

  1. First, in a large heavy-bottomed pot, cook ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until no longer pink. Then drain off the grease.
  2. Next, stir in the remaining ingredients and increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. After it is boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover while simmering for 22-26 minutes. 
  3. Finally, remove from the heat, remove the bay leaf, and serve with shredded cheese. 

Cheese sprinkled onto of the finished American Goulash.

How to get the kids involved with this recipe:

  • Ages 2-3: Let them help by pouring in the pasta into the pot. 
  • Ages 4-5: Let them help measure out the ingredients, pour them into the pot, and stir. They will especially love sprinkling the cheese! 
  • Ages 6-8: Teach them how to cook the meat by using the back of a wooden spoon to break the meat apart. 
  • Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe. 
  • Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!

Discover why we love getting the kids involved in the kitchen and more tips in our How to Get Kids Involved In Cooking article.

More Comfort Meal Dinner recipes:

  • BBQ Chicken Braid
  • Cheesy Baked Spaghetti
  • Cindy’s Easy Sausage Gumbo
  • Easy Beef Chili
  • Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes
  • Homemade Sloppy Joes
  • Inside Out Chicken Pot Pie
  • Jenna’s Chicken Pillows
  • One Pan Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Rice
  • Skillet Lasagna

A serving spoon side the finished American Goulash.

An overhead picture of the finished American Goulash in the pan.
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5 from 9 votes

American Goulash

Recipe Cost $13.34
Recipe Serving Cost $1.67
American Goulash is an easy dinner classic that the entire family will love. It serves 8 and costs $13.34 to make. That's just $1.67 per serving!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time40 mins
Total Time45 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: ground beef, pasta
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 419kcal
Author: Easy Budget Recipes Original!

Equipment

  • box grater
  • chef knife
  • cutting board
  • large pot
  • Wooden spoon

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion chopped
  • 3 large cloves garlic minced
  • 3 cups water
  • 28 ounce can diced tomatoes undrained
  • 29 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Mrs. Dash
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni

FOR GARNISH:

  • Shredded cheddar cheese optional
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large heavy-bottomed pot, Dutch oven, or a large and deep pan (that can hold at least 5 quarts), cook ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain off the grease.
  • Stir in water, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, Mrs. Dash, salt, bay leaf, and elbow macaroni to the pan.
  • Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot or pan, and simmer for 22-26 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through.
  • Remove from the heat, remove the bay leaf, and serve with shredded cheddar cheese (optional). Serve.

Notes

This is an easily adaptable recipe. If you don't have canned tomato sauce or diced tomatoes, then you can use pasta sauce. 
Also, you can you any shredded cheese that you'd like on top. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cup | Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 1024mg | Potassium: 1112mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 572IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 6mg
Did you love this recipe?We'd love to hear from you, follow us on our Facebook page @EasyBudgetRecipesOfficial and let us know how it turned out in the comments below!

Close up picture of the finished dish.

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Filed Under: $15 RECIPES, Main Dish Tagged With: bay leaf, diced tomatoes, elbow macaroni, garlic, ground beef, Italian seasoning, Mrs. Dash, salt, tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, yellow onion

Previous Post: « Leftover Turkey Barley Soup
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer

    February 25, 2020 at 3:15 pm

    5 stars
    LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! Thank you for the recipe. Absolutely delicious!

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      February 25, 2020 at 9:50 pm

      Thank you so much for your kind words!

  2. wilhelmina

    February 26, 2020 at 5:07 am

    5 stars
    This goulash was perfect for feeding a hungry bunch in a hurry! Simple, delicious and satisfying!

    Reply
  3. Doris Huddleston

    March 25, 2020 at 6:21 pm

    I’ve love this recipe because my mother had a recipe for it when I was a little girl, and she taught it to me. It’s one of a very few recipes that I learned by heart so that I didn’t have to look at the recipe to make it because I’d memorized it.

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      March 25, 2020 at 8:42 pm

      Doris I LOVE that. Thanks so much for sharing!

  4. Mary Lou Fitzgerald

    March 26, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    5 stars
    Fabulous trip down memory lane! My mother used to make this and I hadn’t thought of it in years. Mom’s special touch was a sprinkle of celery salt. Your recipe for Goulash is tasty, easy to make and easy on the budget. I’m a great-grad=ndma but still love to cook. Thank you for a happy memory.

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      March 27, 2020 at 11:17 pm

      Oh Mary Lou, this is wonderful. I love when certain recipes hold a special memory. Thank you for sharing yours with us with this recipe.

  5. Cathy

    March 29, 2020 at 9:44 am

    This looks DELICIOUS! I have always been a fan of goulash! Craving some now after seeing the photo! Also, thanks for all the great information and directions/instructions you have provided!

    Cathy Brown

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      March 29, 2020 at 6:46 pm

      Cathy, I hope you are able to make some soon! It is delicious! Thanks for stopping by.

  6. Rosie

    April 18, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    5 stars
    How is it that one of our favorite dishes growing up, I’ve forgotten about it. Oh wow, does this look lip smackin’ good, I must try it!

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      April 19, 2020 at 11:49 pm

      Oh yes Rosie, please do! It is so so good!

  7. Tina

    April 23, 2020 at 3:20 pm

    This looks and sounds absolutely delicious. Can’t wait to try on my husband, daughter and grandchildren.

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      April 23, 2020 at 11:06 pm

      They will all love it!

  8. Amber S

    September 14, 2020 at 3:19 pm

    5 stars
    This is exactly my mothers recipe. This was one of my favorite things as a kid. Thank you so much for posting this along with all the amazing information you added like how to engage children or how to reheat it. Many thanks! P.S – Try adding a 10 ounce can of tomatoes with mild chilies, gives it a nice kick if you would like to change it up slightly.

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      September 15, 2020 at 8:30 am

      Amber that is such a great tip! I will definitely try it next time.

  9. Beth

    September 18, 2020 at 10:21 am

    5 stars
    I made this last night for my family and we all just love it! I love that clean up is a breeze too thanks!

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      September 18, 2020 at 1:21 pm

      So happy your family enjoyed it!

  10. Vicky

    September 18, 2020 at 10:38 am

    5 stars
    Thanks for this budget friendly, yummy dinner idea!!

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      September 18, 2020 at 1:21 pm

      You are so welcome Vicky!

  11. Gail Montero

    September 18, 2020 at 10:59 am

    5 stars
    Love how very economical this American goulash is and certainly goes a long way. Looks so tasty!

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      September 18, 2020 at 1:21 pm

      Gail the leftovers the next day are the best part!

  12. Priya Lakshminarayan

    September 18, 2020 at 11:29 am

    5 stars
    I am drooling just looking at your pics! They look absolutely delicious

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      September 18, 2020 at 1:22 pm

      Thank you! Thanks for stopping by!

  13. Soniya

    September 18, 2020 at 3:29 pm

    Oh my goodness! This looks so delicious and inviting.. can’t wait to try it tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      September 19, 2020 at 9:09 am

      Soniya be sure to let us know how it goes!

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Beth, Jill, and Jess of Easy Budget Recipes

We’re Beth, Jill, and Jess, and we’re the team of sisters-in-law behind Easy Budget Recipes!

Combined, we have over 50 years of cooking, meal planning, and budgeting experience. Each of our recipes serves at least six people, and we have broken down the cost of every recipe for you so that it’s easier to budget your shopping list every week!

We’re so glad that you’re here. Find out more ABOUT US!

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