American goulash is one of those dependable, old-fashioned meals that show up when you need dinner to work. It’s a simple one-pan recipe made with ground beef, macaroni, and pantry staples, and it comes together in about 30 minutes.
This is the kind of thrifty comfort food many of us grew up on — hearty, filling, and unfussy. It easily feeds a family of six, reheats beautifully, and stretches a pound of hamburger into a meal that feels generous, not skimpy! It’s homemade comfort food that beats the heck out of hamburger helper, and it doesn’t come from a box.
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet or Dutch oven, breaking it up as it cooks. Once it’s no longer pink, add the remaining ingredients, stir well, cover, and let everything simmer until the macaroni is tender and the sauce has thickened.
A quick and easy main dish you make in one pan starting with a pound of ground beef. Tasty, kid-friendly comfort food.
Store leftovers safely according to USDA food storage guidelines.
Store leftover goulash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to loosen the sauce.
This recipe also freezes well. Let the goulash cool completely, then freeze in portion-sized containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat.
Can I use a different type of pasta?
Yes. Elbow macaroni is traditional, but other short pasta shapes will work as well. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the pasta you choose.
Can I double this recipe? This recipe works best as written. If you want to make more, it’s better to cook two batches so the pasta cooks evenly and doesn’t turn mushy.
Does American goulash freeze well?
Yes. It freezes well for up to 3 months. Freezing in individual portions makes it easy to reheat for quick meals later
American goulash has been a staple in home kitchens for generations, especially across the Midwest. It’s sometimes confused with Hungarian goulash, but the two dishes are very different. American goulash is a simple, pantry-based meal made with ground beef, pasta, and a tomato-based sauce, while Hungarian goulash is a slow-simmered stew flavored with paprika and made with chunks of beef.
This version is the kind many families remember from childhood — practical, filling, and easy to make on a busy night. It’s not fancy food, and it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it focuses on stretching ingredients, minimizing dishes, and getting a hot meal on the table with minimal fuss. Funeral Potatoes were one of my favorite comfort foods from my Midwest childhood.
That straightforward approach is exactly why recipes like this have stood the test of time.
I hope some of these one-pot dinners will come in handy for you!
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⭐ Tater Tot Casserole in a Cast Iron Skillet
If you make this American Goulash recipe, I'd love to hear how it turned out — please leave a comment or a message below.
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Thank you!! I LOVE to feed people! It's my love language.
We had a similar dish growing up in New England. We called it American chop suey. My Chinese husband says doesn’t look like any chop suey he ever had. But chop suey is not a Chinese dish.. Yours looks gourmet with canned tomatoes. My mother used Ragú jar sauce. Getting ready to make some this week.
Yay!! You go girl! The only gourmet I do is quick and easy make it at home! I think you'll really like it- so far, it's been a hit with folks who tried it! I really do prefer the petite diced tomatoes but as I said if you have trouble finding them just chop them up right in the can with kitchen scissors! And, there are several varities and brands to choose from!
Let me know how it goes!!!
[…] Old favorite recipe you can whip up in one pan with just a pound of hamburger and a few simple ingredients from the pantry. Full instructions below. GB’s Go Go Goulash Recipe […]
So you don't precook the macaroni?
Nope! That's the go-go part of it! One pan, super easy!!
Dry macaroni!!! All these years I’ve been adding an extra step..... and an extra pan to wash. Thanks.
Right? Yay! It works like a charm!!
Looks very similar to a Ohio dish called Johnny MarzettI invented for Ohio State hungry students by a cook in the restaurant of the same name. Could DD GREEN PEPPER AND SOME CHEESE. POPULAR IS SCHOOL CAFETERIAS IN THE 50'S & 60"S.
I've heard of that but didn' know it was so close to goulash! Thank you!!! Our girls went to a small town school where lunch in the cafeteria was the highlight of their day! They even put out a cookbook after the school closed. Now you prompted me to see if I can still get one!
We also had this in our lunchroom growing up, they even made their own rolls. Nowadays, everything the schools cooked is prepacked. I know because I worked at the high-school kitchen.
I know, right? Our girls loved the cooks and the food in their little school growing up in a small Nebraska community! Homemade goulash is great comfort food! Thanks for taking time to stop by and say hi! 💖
My son spent a week at Grandma's and came home saying she added peas to hers and he said it was funny but good. My daughter said it needs some cheese just before serving
Peas and cheese are sure to please!! 🙂 Grandma probably LOVED cooking for the grandkids. I know I sure do! Thanks for sharing!! ❤
I used your recipe as a guide (for lack of a better word) and used what I had in my pantry/freezer. Ground turkey instead of beef. RoTels instead of petite dice tomatoes and cut down the macaroni by 1/2 cup. It's got a little bite to it from the RoTels which my husband is happy about. I'll circle back and make the original at some point. Thank you for sharing.
You go girl! The kitchen is my laboratory and I LOVE a fellow free styler! Good for you!!!!
[…] GB’s Go Go Goulash Recipe […]
Delicious!!! 👍👍
Thank you! It's really a favorite at our house!! You are so sweet to comment.
Could this work in a crockpot? If so, for about how long?
I've never tried it, Lana. Let me do some checking- I'm guessing not because the hamburger needs to be browned and the macaroni needs to cook at a temperature close to boiling. An InstantPot would sure work but I'm late to the party on them and haven't used mine a whole bunch.
https://www.thereciperebel.com/slow-cooker-baked-ziti
A quick look online says yes you can cook pasta in a crockpot but you do need to brown the hamburger or sausage in a pan first.
I think you could use this recipe and her method and it should work. If it was me, though, I'd make it on a day I was going to be around or at least in and out so I could check on the progress. Let me know!!
WHAT SIZE OF CAN FOR PETITE TOMATOES?
The regular 14.5-ounce size, sorry.
Thank you for the quick and easy recipe for a Monday night. My husband loved it, and it took so very little time! We love spicy, so I put a can of Ro-Tel into it instead of regular tomatoes, so it was awesome.
That's awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
[…] Quick And Easy American Goulash In One Pan […]
What can you use as a substitute for tomato soup?
Great thought-provoking question! It's one I have never thought of! Here are some ideas I found.
https://reallifedinner.com/make-condensed-tomato-soup-substitute/
https://www.mantitlement.com/copycat-campbells-tomato-soup/
https://food.unl.edu/article/how-substitute-tomato-sauce-other-forms-tomatoes
I'm very excited to discover this information myself! Thank you, Julie!!
Do you drain the hamburger meat?
If the ground beef has a higher fat content or has water added, yes. If I use good, lean ground beef like 93% lean, then I don't. If you drain ALL the fat, you lose a lot of flavor. Thanks for asking! It is so darn easy and good!!
Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.
Gosh, thanks for taking the time to comment!!! ❤ Glad you liked it and the one-pan simplicity of it is probably what I like the most! (But it tastes awfully good, too!!)
What size can tomato soup?? Condensed or not?
In the recipe card, I list the tomato soup as a 10.5-ounce can. Thanks to your question, I added condensed. 😊 Thanks! It's the standard size can of add-water canned soup. Campbells or store brand, both work nicely.
Had this in school always liked it but they had kidney beans in theirs. Going to make for supper one night this week. YUM
That is awesome! The kidney beans are another smart way to stretch a pound of hamburger and add more protein and fiber. It's so good, the whole family loves it. We'll try adding beans sometime! ❤
How about adding green pepper?
sure! if you have some and your family likes them, I say go for it!!
I loved the fact it is in one pan, however I found it lacked taste. I chopped an onion and two stalks of celery, sautéed and added them and substituted spaghetti sauce for the soup.
I'm so glad you found a way to make it to your liking! You are my kind of gal!
This recipe is a lifesaver! I love how simple and quick it is to make. Perfect for weeknight dinners—thanks for sharing! Can't wait to try it out!
Thank you so much!! You made me smile! It's an old standby at our house- nand you betcha, it is quick, easy and so good!
This American Goulash recipe looks fantastic! I love how quick and easy it is, especially for busy weeknights. Can’t wait to try it out! Thanks for sharing!
I can't wait for you to try it! Its been a family favorite for years and years! The other night I realized too late I did not have enough elbow macaroni so I used bowties and it was just as great! Happy Easter my friend!
This American Goulash recipe looks fantastic! I love how it can all be made in one pan—perfect for busy weeknights. Can’t wait to give it a try!
Thank you! The best part is how good it tastes! The second best part is there's only one pan to wash, and you don't need to boil the macaroni!
I love how straightforward this American Goulash recipe is! It’s perfect for busy weeknights. The one-pan aspect makes cleanup a breeze, and I can’t wait to try adding some extra veggies for a little twist. Thanks for sharing!
It's been a favorite for so many years for that very reason! So simple to make, only one pan to wash and it tastes great! Feel free to make it your own wit added veggies and i hope you family loves it too!
I just tried this American Goulash recipe, and it was a hit with my family! So quick and easy to make, and everything cooked perfectly in one pan. Thanks for sharing such a delicious meal idea!
How very kind of you to take time to comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It is so easy, one pan to wash, and a supper our family has enjoyed for many, many years!
This American Goulash recipe looks so simple and delicious! I love that it's all made in one pan, making cleanup a breeze. Can't wait to try it for dinner this week! Thanks for sharing!
Ha ha, you nailed it! Those are the reasons it has stayed in our meal rotation for so many years! Total comfort food made easy!
This American Goulash recipe is fantastic! I love how easy it is to make everything in one pan. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, and my family devoured it! Thanks for sharing such a delicious and simple meal option!
Thank you! Glad you liked it! It's been a favorite around here forever!
This American Goulash recipe looks so comforting and perfect for busy weeknights! I love that it’s all cooked in one pan—definitely saving on cleanup time. Can’t wait to try it out with my family!
Thanks! Our family loves it, hope yours does too!
This recipe looks delicious and so simple to make! I love one-pan meals that save time on cleanup. Can't wait to try this goulash for dinner this week!
Thank you- it really is a good one!
I love how simple and quick this American goulash recipe is! One-pan meals are a lifesaver on busy weeknights. Can't wait to try it out!
Yes it is! I hope you try it and enjoy!
This American Goulash recipe looks delicious and so easy to make! I love that it's all done in one pan—perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Can't wait to try it out! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for taking time to comment! It's pretty good stuff and I hope you like it at your house, too!