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Easy One-Pot American Goulash! This recipe is classic comfort food made with ground beef, elbow macaroni and a rich tomato sauce. Instructions are included for how to make American Goulash on the stove, in the slow cooker (crock pot) or in the Instant Pot.
Who remembers American Goulash from your childhood? Did your mom call this “Johnny Marzetti” or “slumgullion”? What was it called?
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Pin It NowAMERICAN GOULASH – THE EASY, ONE-POT WAY!
If you are looking for a warm, nostalgic meal that is easy to make, feeds a crowd, and is budget friendly, this easy one-pot American Goulash is exactly what you are looking for!
Here’s why you’re going to love this recipe:
- Ready in under 30 minutes!
- Made entirely in one pot for minimal cleanup
- Nostalgic! Maybe you called this American Goulash in your house but it’s also possible you called it Johnny Marzetti if you’re from Ohio. Was it baked with cheese on top?
Let’s head to the kitchen and make this easy goulash! But first a quick FYI. If you are expecting the rich, paprika-spiced stew known as Hungarian goulash, this recipe isn’t quite that. It’s a different kind of comfort food altogether! American goulash is more simple, and I’ll explain the difference in just a minute.
❤️ Ashley
American Goulash vs Hungarian Goulash
While Hungarian Goulash is delicious, this is not that recipe. American Goulash is quite different and here are the key differences:
- Base – American goulash has a tomato base while Hungarian goulash has a paprika broth base.
- Meat – American goulash is made with ground beef while Hungarian goulash has chunks of beef stew meat or beef chuck.
- Pasta – elbow macaroni is an essential ingredient in American goulash while the Hungarian version does not have pasta.
- Texture – The American version is more like a casserole while the Hungarian version is like a thick stew or soup.
- Seasoning – You will notice that the American version is seasoned with Italian-style herbs like oregano, Italian seasoning, while the Hungarian version features lots of paprika, garlic, bay leaf, caraway seeds.
- Cooking time – American goulash is a perfect quick and easy one-pot meal while Hungarian goulash typically involves a long simmer to develop all of the flavors.
how to make easy one-pot American goulash
American Goulash checks all of the boxes for something warm and comforting and family friendly. Here is a brief overview of how to make it. The full recipe, including ingredient amounts, is found in the recipe card below.
- Sauté the onion – this draws out the onion’s natural sugars and adds lots of flavor to this recipe. Not only that, sautéed onions smell and taste amazing! Toss in some garlic here, if you’d like.
- Brown the ground beef – I use 1 pound of lean ground beef in this recipe. Break the meat apart into bite-sized pieces as it cooks.
- Season – for this recipe I like to use salt and black pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and oregano.
- Add tomatoes and pasta – add in petite diced tomatoes (regular diced tomatoes are fine if you can’t find petite), tomato sauce, beef broth and uncooked macaroni. Stir to combine.
- Simmer – bring the mixture to a boil ,then cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10-13 minutes until pasta is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Options – stir in cheddar cheese if desired and garnish with green onions or finely chopped fresh parsley.
Goulash Variations
- Add cheese – cheddar is delicious! Finely grated parmesan is also a great option!
- Add more veggies – green bell pepper or red bell peppers add color and flavor! Using peppers? Add them in with the onion and sauté. Peas are also a delicious option!
- Protein – I use ground beef but feel free to use ground turkey as a leaner alternative.
Want to make this American Goulash in the Crock Pot (Slow Cooker) or Instant Pot ? Instructions are included in the recipe card below!
serve
A quick and easy dinner like this one-pot American Goulash is best served with quick and easy sides!
- Salad with homemade ranch or Italian
- Quick and easy garlic bread
- Green Beans or Roasted Carrots
Storage and Reheating
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Reheat in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in an air fryer. Add a splash of water if needed to lossen everything up.
This easy one-pot A American Goulash is simple and made with pantry staples. It’s proof that a recipe doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious! This warm, nostalgic meal is on the table in under 30 minutes and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Easy One-Pot American Goulash
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 28 oz can petite diced tomatoes (with juices)
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 3 cups beef broth or water
- 16 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese optional
- Diced green onions or chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Stovetop American Goulash Instructions
- Sauté the onion: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 4–5 minutes.
- Brown the ground beef: Add the ground beef and cook until fully browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Season the mixture: Stir in the salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and oregano. Mix well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Add tomatoes and pasta: Pour in the petite diced tomatoes (with their juices), tomato sauce, beef broth, and uncooked macaroni. Stir to combine.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the pot. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10–13 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Finish and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. If using, stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Garnish with green onions or parsley and serve warm.
Crock Pot (Slow Cooker) American Goulash Instructions
- Sauté the onion: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 4–5 minutes.
- Brown the ground beef: Add the ground beef and cook until fully browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Transfer to slow cooker and season: add the beef and onions to the slow cooker. Season – stir in the salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and oregano. Mix well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Add tomatoes broth: Pour in the petite diced tomatoes (with their juices), tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir to combine.
- Cook – cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
- Add macaroni – about 30 minutes before serving, stir in the macaroni and cook on high until the pasta is tender.
- Options – stir in cheddar cheese just before serving if using. Adjust seasonings to taste. Garnish with green onion or chopped parsley.
Instant Pot American Goulash Instructions
- Sauté the onion and beef: set the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add olive oil and diced onion. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent. Add in ground beef and brown thoroughly, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Season: Stir in the salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and oregano. Mix well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Add tomatoes and pasta: Pour in the petite diced tomatoes (with their juices), tomato sauce, beef broth, and uncooked macaroni. Stir to combine making sure to scrape up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
- Pressure cook: lock the lid, set the valve to "sealing" and cook on high for 4 minutes.
- Quick release: when the timer goes off, carefully do a quick release. I like to cover the valve with a towel to prevent liquid from splattering all over. Give the g goulash a good stir. The mixture will thicken as it sits.
- Options – stir in shredded cheddar cheese if using, and garnish with chopped green onions or parsley.
