Chef John's American Goulash

4.8
(402)
330 Reviews
67 Photos

American goulash was one of my all-time favorite comfort food meals when I was growing up. They served it in my school cafeteria alongside a slice of buttered white bread and a carton of milk. This Americanized version of goulash was invented to stretch a small amount of beef into enough food for a not-so-small family. It's a simple dish that doesn't taste simple, so it's perfect for your weeknight dinner rotation.

By
John Mitzewich
Chef John
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich — aka Chef John — has produced more than 1,500 cooking videos for Allrecipes. He's the actor, director, and screenwriter whose hands and voice confidently walk you through techniques.
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Updated on November 25, 2023
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself.
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67
Overhead view on a bowl of Chef John's American goulash.
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 5 mins
Additional Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 25 mins
Servings:
12
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 12 servings

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 2 pounds ground beef

  • 1 large onion, diced

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 large bay leaves

  • 2 tablespoons paprika

  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

  • 1 quart chicken broth

  • 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce

  • 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 1 cup water

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 2 cups elbow macaroni

  • ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley

  • 1 cup shredded white Cheddar cheese (Optional)

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    All ingredients gathered to make American goulash.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Heat oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onion; cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbly and onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Continue to cook and stir until liquid is evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic, bay leaves, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and cayenne.

    Ground beef and onions cooking in a pot, until beef is browned and onion is translucent.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors come together, about 3 minutes. Pour in broth, marinara sauce, and diced tomatoes. Pour water into the sauce jar, swirl, and pour into the pot. Stir in soy sauce; bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until flavors intensify, about 30 minutes.

    Broth, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes and soy sauce added to pot, simmering until flavors intensify.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a rapid simmer. Stir in macaroni; cook, stirring occasionally, until just barely tender, about 12 minutes. Check for doneness after 10 minutes.

    Stir in macaroni, stirring until tender.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Remove from the heat and discard bay leaves. Stir in Cheddar and parsley. Cover and let rest for 5 minutes. Taste and season as desired.

Overhead view on a bowl of Chef John's American goulash.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Chef's Notes

Make your own Italian herb mix with a blend of oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley, and basil.

Feel free to use water instead of chicken broth. You can also add beans to turn this into an excellent pasta fazool.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

336 Calories
17g Fat
25g Carbs
19g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 336
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 58mg 19%
Sodium 1169mg 51%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 19g 38%
Vitamin C 8mg 8%
Calcium 115mg 9%
Iron 4mg 21%
Potassium 452mg 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.