American Goulash

Name: American Goulash with Ground Beef & Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 45 min
Total time: 1 h 55 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1/2 onion, diced; 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained; 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce; 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste; 1/2 green bell pepper, diced; 1 tbsp minced garlic; 1 1/2 tsp dried basil; 1 tsp parsley flakes; 1 tsp brown sugar; 1/2 tsp salt (for sauce); 1/4 tsp black pepper; 2 cups water; 1 cup beef broth; 8 oz macaroni pasta; 1.5 quarts water (for pasta); 1/2 tsp salt (for pasta water); Shredded parmesan cheese, for topping

American goulash is a one-pot ground beef and macaroni dish simmered in a rich tomato sauce until tender and deeply flavored. It's a classic comfort meal that comes together in under 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

🌍American 🏷️Goulash 🏷️American goulash 🏷️Ground beef 🏷️Macaroni Pasta

🏷️

🏷️Tomato sauce

-0:00

natural.beauty54onTikTok

Total

1h 55m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$32–$53

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by natural.beauty54

-0:00

natural.beauty54onTikTok

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, diced
1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt (for sauce)
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 cups water
1 cup beef broth
8 oz macaroni pasta
1.5 quarts water (for pasta)
1/2 tsp salt (for pasta water)
Shredded parmesan cheese, for toppingoptional

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Instructions

1
In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat.
2
While the beef browns, dice the onion.
3
When the beef is almost fully browned, add the diced onion to the pot. Cook for about 3 minutes, until the onions become translucent.
4
Drain the excess grease from the beef and onions, then return the mixture to the pot.
5
Add the drained petite diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and diced green bell pepper.
6
Stir in the minced garlic, dried basil, parsley flakes, brown sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, and black pepper.
7
Pour in 2 cups of water, stir everything to combine, and bring to a low boil.
8
Once boiling, cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally.
9
After about 1 hour and 20 minutes of simmering, stir in the beef broth.
10
Towards the end of the sauce's simmering time, cook the pasta. Bring 1.5 quarts of water and 1/2 tsp of salt to a boil in a separate pot.
11
Add the macaroni pasta to the boiling water and cook for about 8 minutes, or until al dente.
12
Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pot with the goulash sauce.
13
Stir to combine everything and remove from the heat.
14
Serve hot, topped with shredded parmesan cheese if desired.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly and drain excess fat before adding aromatics to avoid a greasy sauce.
Stir the goulash every few minutes during simmering to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Taste and adjust seasoning near the end of cooking; brown sugar balances acidity, so add more if the sauce tastes too sharp.
Don't overcook the pasta—it continues to soften as the dish simmers, so aim for al dente before adding the sauce.

Substitutions

Ground turkey or ground lamb → ground beef (use same amount)
Fresh diced tomatoes → canned petite diced tomatoes (use 2 cups fresh, drained)
Dried basil → fresh basil (use 1 tbsp, added in last 5 minutes)
Elbow macaroni → small pasta shapes like ditalini or rotini (no adjustment needed)

Storage & make-ahead

Refrigerate covered for up to 4 days; reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water to loosen. Freezes well for up to 3 months.

Common Questions

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?

Yes. Ground turkey works well as a leaner substitute; cook it the same way as ground beef until fully browned.

Should I cook the pasta separately or in the sauce?

This recipe simmers the pasta in the sauce directly, which allows the macaroni to absorb flavor. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

How do I store and reheat leftover goulash?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce if needed.