Active Time:25 minsAdditional Time:5 minsTotal Time:30 minsServings:4Yield:4 servingsJump to Nutrition Facts
Active Time:25 minsAdditional Time:5 minsTotal Time:30 minsServings:4Yield:4 servings
Active Time:25 mins
Active Time:
25 mins
Additional Time:5 mins
Additional Time:
5 mins
Total Time:30 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:4
Servings:
4
Yield:4 servings
Yield:
4 servings
Jump to Nutrition Facts
Jump to recipe
Busy weeknights require quick-fix meals that satisfy—luckilyAmerican Goulashis one of those meals! Made with pantry and refrigerator staples and ready in 30 minutes, it’s a meal that you’ll want to add to your weekly recipe rotation. One pot is all you’ll need to whip up a delicious meal that provides a nourishing balance of whole grains, vegetables and lean protein. This budget-friendly meal is versatile too—find out how to adapt the recipe to fit almost any taste or dietary preference so the whole family can enjoy it.
How to Make American Goulash
1. Use a Large Dutch Oven
Almost any pot would be great for making this dish, but a large Dutch oven makes the job easy. It ensures there’s enough space for all the ingredients, and you won’t struggle when combining it together at the end. If you don’t have one, use a large, deep-sided skillet or stockpot, preferably 4 quarts or larger.
2. Prep Ingredients in Advance
In an ideal world, we’d all have prep chefs that gather our ingredients and cut and chop them for us. Luckily, prep isn’t that time-consuming, especially for this recipe, and will help with efficiency while cooking. Keep items organized on a sheet pan, and add garlic and spices to one small bowl since they’re all added at the same time in the recipe.
3. Cook Aromatics and Spices First
Believe it or not, there’s a method to the madness when it comes to cooking, including the order in which foods are cooked. To maximize flavor, the onion and beef are cooked first. Cooking the onions not only softens them, but sweetens them. This step gets them ready for flavoring during the rest of the stages of cooking. Cooking the spices before adding any liquids toasts them, boosting flavor even more. This method helps build layers of flavor at every point in the recipe.
Photographer: Brie Goldman Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
The Best Toppings for American Goulash
The great thing about American Goulash is your ability to customize it. That includes changing up the toppings and making twists to accommodate your diners! American Goulash can be served with Parmesan cheese as directed in the recipe, but we have a few additional ideas.
Variations to Try
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
Nutrition Notes
Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)Ingredients1tablespoonextra-virgin olive oil1 ½cupschopped onion1poundlean ground beef2large clovesgarlic, minced2teaspoonspaprika1teaspoonItalian seasoning1teaspoonsalt¼teaspoonground pepper1(14 ounce) canno-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained1(8 ounce) canno-salt-added tomato sauce1cuplow-sodium beef or chicken broth1¼cupswhole-wheat elbow macaroni2tablespoonsgrated Parmesan cheese
Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)
Ingredients
1tablespoonextra-virgin olive oil
1 ½cupschopped onion
1poundlean ground beef
2large clovesgarlic, minced
2teaspoonspaprika
1teaspoonItalian seasoning
1teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonground pepper
1(14 ounce) canno-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
1(8 ounce) canno-salt-added tomato sauce
1cuplow-sodium beef or chicken broth
1¼cupswhole-wheat elbow macaroni
2tablespoonsgrated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and beef; cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes and their juices, tomato sauce and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add macaroni and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 6 to 9 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired.
EquipmentLarge pot
Equipment
Large pot
Frequently Asked Questions
Originating in Hungary, goulash is a soup or stew that features potatoes and/or other root vegetables, stew beef and plenty of paprika. It cooks slowly, allowing the beef to tenderize and rich deep flavors to develop. American goulash draws inspiration from the original dish, but it is less like a stew and more like a one-pot meal. It features ground beef, pasta (usually macaroni) and tomatoes. UnlikeHungarian goulash, American goulash cooks quickly, making it a great family-friendly option for busy weeknights. Both types of goulash feature the addition of paprika for spice and warmth.
Ground beef is traditional, butlean ground turkey, pork or chicken will also work. If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, try a crumbled meat alternative ortempeh.
Certainly! This recipe is perfect for busy weeks, and the goulash will taste even better the next day as the flavors have more time to blend. You can store the cooked goulash in the refrigerator for about 3 days or freeze it in one airtight container or individual containers for up to 3 months. It’s important to note that enjoying this recipe fresh is always best, as the pasta won’t be the same consistency after being frozen. If that’s a concern, you can freeze all of the elements except for the pasta and add freshly cooked pasta when ready to continue with the recipe.
To reheat the goulash, heat on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave on high in short 1- or 2-minute bursts. Make sure the goulash is steaming hot all the way through before serving. Note: If you don’t think you’ll finish your leftovers in one sitting, don’t heat the entire dish, as ground beef should only be reheated once.
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Nutrition Facts(per serving)418Calories16gFat40gCarbs31gProtein
Nutrition Facts(per serving)
- Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.
Hilary Meyer,
Carrie Myers, M.S.,
Jan Valdez,
Sara Haas, RDN, LDN,
andLinda Frahm
Linda Frahm
