Grandma’s Old Fashioned American Goulash {Beefaroni} - Key To My Lime (2024)

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This best ever Old Fashioned Goulash is a quintessential comfort food recipe – it’s quick and easy, kid friendly, and it’s perfect for busy cold winter nights.

Old Fashioned Goulash

If you’ve tried a few different American goulash recipes and are looking for the best one, this is the recipe you need to try.

The flavors blend together so well, and the perfectly cooked noodles coated in the gooey melted cheddar cheese is mouth watering.

The secret to this recipe is adding a little sugar. It’s an important step because it mellows the acidity of the tomatoes.

It’s a super simple recipe to pull together, and it basically just cooks itself. If you like sloppy joes and minestrone soup, I know you’ll love this effortless pasta recipe.

This is a great easy, affordable, and delicious recipe for busy nights. Plus, it’s just warm and comforting, which is perfect for the cold days that are coming.

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Why Is American Goulash Different?

Hungarian goulash is totally different than American goulash. The recipes are only similar in the sense that they both have a tomato base, beef, and some kind of starch.

They’re also both highly customized from kitchen to kitchen, and it’s common for each family to have their own unique spin on the base recipe.

Hungarian goulash is a tomato-based cubed beef and potato stew that’s flavored with lots of paprika.

American goulash is also tomato-based, but it’s made with ground beef and macaroni. It’s also common for it to have lots of shredded cheese stirred into it.

Is Goulash The Same As Beefaroni?

Yes! American goulash is essentially the same thing as Beefaroni. You can often find the names used interchangeably, depending on where in the United States you are.

Did you know that American goulash is known as American chop suey and Johnny Marzetti? No matter what you call it, it’s a truly delicious and comforting dish.

Ingredients

This recipe uses pantry friendly ingredients, so I’ll bet you have most of them on hand already.

For this recipe you’ll need lean ground beef, yellow onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, elbow macaroni, sugar, and cheddar cheese.

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How To Make American Goulash

Start by browning the ground beef in a large Dutch oven, then adding in the onions are sautéing them until they’re translucent. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)

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Add in the spices and the garlic, and sauté until the garlic is aromatic. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer to let the flavors combine.

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Add the sugar and elbow macaroni, and cook until the pasta is cooked to al dente. Make sure to stir it occasionally so that the noodles don’t stick to the bottom.

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Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and serve. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.

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Optional Adaptations

Since this is one of those recipes that really takes on a new life in every kitchen, feel free to play around with it! Some popular additions and adaptations are:

Use tomato soup in lieu of tomato sauce.

If you want to keep it a little healthier, try using ground chicken instead of hamburger meat.

Add some chopped green pepper for some additional flavor.

A dash of Worcestershire sauce adds a delicious flavor dimension.

Adding kidney beans or corn are both great ways to affordably bulk up this recipe.

Serving it with a sprinkling of seasoning salt really brings the flavor to the next level.

If you want to really emphasize the beef flavor, try using beef broth instead of chicken broth.

Shredded mozzarella cheese can be used instead of cheddar cheese if that’s what you have on hand (or if that’s the cheese you prefer).

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Keep In Touch

I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram!@KeyToMyLime#KeyToMyLime

Click here to pin this recipe for later!

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Easy Pasta Recipes

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out our entire pasta recipes section! It’s full of easy recipes that can help you get dinner on the table quickly. Some reader favorites are:

  • Macaroni and Tomatoes
  • Bacon Pasta
  • Garlic Chicken Pasta
  • Cream Cheese Pasta
  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
  • Mexican Spaghetti with Ground Beef

Yield: 6 servings

Grandma’s Old Fashioned American Goulash {Beefaroni} - Key To My Lime (10)

This best ever Old Fashioned Goulash is a quintessential comfort food recipe - it’s quick and easy, kid friendly, and perfect for busy cold winter nights.

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time40 minutes

Total Time45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion (diced, about 1 cup)
  • 2 medium cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 200 grams uncooked elbow macaroni pasta (about 2 cups)
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese (plus extra for garnish)*
  • Freshly chopped parsley (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat a medium Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground beef and cook until half cooked (about 4 minutes). Drain off any excess fat, then add in the onions and cook until they’re translucent (about 4 more minutes).
  2. Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper to the beef. Mix to combine, and saute until aromatic (about 2 minutes).
  3. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it has come to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and let simmer for 15 minutes.
  4. Stir in the sugar, then add the pasta and cook until al dente (about 15 minutes), stirring occasionally.Once the pasta is finished cooking, remove the Dutch oven from the heat. Add in the shredded cheese and gently stir until it’s melted and combined.
  5. Serve with chopped parsley and extra shredded cheese.

Notes

*It’s important to use freshly shredded cheese because the pre-shredded kinds available at the store are coated in a starch that stops it from melting well.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1/6
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 460Total Fat: 18.8gCarbohydrates: 38.1gFiber: 3.6gSugar: 8.7gProtein: 33.4g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Tag@KeyToMyLimeon Instagram so we can see your delicious meal!

Old fashioned American goulash with ground beef is the perfect easy dinner recipe when you’re looking for a hearty meal that’s pretty hands off. Be sure to give it a try!

Grandma’s Old Fashioned American Goulash {Beefaroni} - Key To My Lime (2024)

FAQs

Is beefaroni the same as Goulash? ›

Beefaroni (aka American Goulash) is a simple recipe most of us grow up enjoying, whether it was straight from a can or made from scratch. It's total comfort food. This is a simple recipe, made with ground beef in a homemade tomato sauce with just a few seasonings, plus elbow macaroni noodles.

What is American Goulash made of? ›

American Goulash is not the same thing as goulash in other parts of the world. This American Goulash recipe is a simple dish with ground beef and elbow macaroni simmered in tomato sauce. It is also known as “slumgullion”, Hamburger Goulash, or “American chop suey” among other names!

Why do people put sugar in Goulash? ›

The secret to this recipe is adding a little sugar. It's an important step because it mellows the acidity of the tomatoes. It's a super simple recipe to pull together, and it basically just cooks itself.

What to serve with Goulash for dinner? ›

The best side dishes to serve with American Goulash are crispy green beans, country gravy, mashed sweet potatoes, butternut squash, watermelon cucumber salad, caramelized carrots, Tabasco sauce, corn salsa, grilled asparagus, cornbread, roasted Brussels sprouts, cucumber salad, garlic bread, biscuits, and macaroni ...

How to make beefaroni taste better? ›

Grate the cheese from a block as it will melt much better than packaged grated cheese. Make sure the base isn't too hot when you add the cheese, otherwise the dairy can separate and create a grainy consistency. Bouillon: A little beef bouillon adds depth of flavor, I use 1/2 tsp Better than Bouillon.

What is original goulash made of? ›

Compulsory ingredients are meat and onions, usually in 50-50% ratio, paprika, and lard or oil, other ingredients being optional: garlic, parsley, chili pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, bell peppers, carrots, tomatoes, red wine, mushrooms, bacon.

What is the difference between American and traditional goulash? ›

American goulash is a one-pot dish of ground beef, pasta (often elbow macaroni), tomatoes and cheese. Sometimes it includes paprika, like its Hungarian counterpart. Since American goulash calls for ground beef, it cooks much faster than Hungarian goulash which relies on low-and-slow cooking to render the beef tender.

Can you use tomato paste instead of tomato sauce? ›

Substitute Tomato Paste For Tomato Sauce

If you have a can of tomato paste in your pantry, you are in luck—this is the best substitution for tomato sauce. All you need is the tomato paste and water. Mix together 1 part tomato paste and 1 part water until well blended. Then, season your "sauce" to taste.

Does sugar neutralize tomato acid? ›

Why the approach works: Though the sugar will not actually neutralize acidity, it changes our perception of other tastes, mellowing tartness while maintaining the sauce's complexity.

What culture eats goulash? ›

goulash, traditional stew of Hungary. The origins of goulash have been traced to the 9th century, to stews eaten by Magyar shepherds. Before setting out with their flocks, they prepared a portable stock of food by slowly cooking cut-up meats with onions and other flavourings until the liquids had been absorbed.

What does brown sugar do to meat? ›

Along with salt, sugar (either brown or white granulated) is a dry-brine must-have, essential both for its browning capabilities and flavor-enhancing properties. Breaking out the sugar is my favorite way to ensure that my turkey comes out perfectly tender and golden brown every November.

What is another name for American Goulash? ›

American Goulash has many names, depending on the region you're from – Slumgullion, American Chop Suey, Johnny Marzetti, and even Beefaroni.

Do you eat goulash in a bowl? ›

Though one noticeable thing about traditional Goulash is that the broth is thinner than what you think of with stews, and it's not thickened with flour or cream. Also, it's not typically served over mash like stews, it's served in bowls like soup.

Can you freeze leftover goulash? ›

Yes! This One Pot American Goulash recipe is very freezer-friendly. Just make sure to cool the goulash completely in the refrigerator first, then transfer to the freezer for long term storage. I suggest freezing goulash for three months maximum.

What's another name for goulash? ›

What is another word for goulash?
stewbourguignon
gallimaufrypot-au-feu
pottagehash
hotpothotdish
casserole dishcovered dish
4 more rows

What is the difference between goulash and goulash? ›

Hungarian Goulash is a thick meat and vegetable stew with a broth that's heavily seasoned with paprika, while American Goulash is a quick dish made from ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It also goes by the name of American Chop Suey.

Are goulash and hamburger helper the same thing? ›

Hungarian goulash is a thick soup with meat and vegetables, usually seasoned with paprika. American goulash is very different. It generally has tomato sauce, macaroni and beef. It's almost like a homemade hamburger helper.

Are beefaroni and hamburger helper the same thing? ›

Simply put, Beefaroni is elevated Hamburger Helper. And when I say elevated, I mean severely elevated! The powdered mix that comes in a little cardboard box can't compete with ingredients like tomatoes, fresh garlic, onions, and bold seasonings.

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