Old Fashioned Goulash Recipe Your Family Will Devour

Old fashioned goulash offers comfort food to a whole new level with its hearty, satisfying nature that has fed families for generations.

This classic dish offers warmth and nostalgia in every bite, making it a reliable choice for busy weeknights or lazy weekends when you crave something filling.

The beauty of this meal lies in its simplicity and how it manages to please crowds without requiring fancy techniques or hard-to-find items.

You can count on it to disappear quickly from the dinner table, leaving everyone feeling content and well-fed.

It's the kind of recipe that grandmothers perfected and passed down because it simply works every single time.

Budget-friendly and efficient, this dish proves that delicious home cooking doesn't need to be complicated or expensive.

Few meals offer such reliable, cozy satisfaction while being so easy to prepare on any given day.

What Makes Old Fashioned Goulash So Comforting

• Crowd-Pleaser Comfort: This goulash brings everyone together around the dinner table with its rich, satisfying flavors that make even picky eaters happy.
• One-Pot Wonder: You can make a complete meal in a single skillet, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying dinner with your family.
• Budget-Friendly Feast: Ground beef, simple pantry ingredients, and affordable pasta make this a wallet-friendly dish that feeds a hungry group without breaking the bank.
• Customizable Classic: Feel free to adjust seasonings or add extra vegetables to match your family’s taste preferences, making this recipe wonderfully flexible for different palates.

Essential Ingredients for Old Fashioned Goulash

• Ground Beef (2 pounds): The star of your goulash, this meat brings rich flavor and hearty texture to the dish.
• Elbow Macaroni (2 cups): This classic pasta shape catches all the delicious sauce and creates a comforting base for your meal.
• Tomato Sauce (2 15-ounce cans): Provides a smooth, rich base for your sauce.
• Diced Tomatoes (2 14.5-ounce cans): Adds chunky texture and bright tomato flavor to the goulash.
• Onion (1 large): Builds a flavor foundation with its sweet and savory notes.
• Garlic (3 cloves): Brings a deep, aromatic punch to the dish.
• Italian Seasoning (2 tablespoons): Adds herbal complexity to your goulash.
• Worcestershire Sauce (1 tablespoon): Introduces a tangy, umami depth.
• Soy Sauce (2 tablespoons): Enhances the meat’s savoriness.
• Paprika (1 teaspoon): Gives a classic Hungarian touch.
• Salt (½ teaspoon) and Black Pepper (½ teaspoon): Essential for balancing and brightening flavors.
• Bay Leaves (2): Provide a subtle, earthy background note.

• Olive Oil (2 tablespoons): Helps sauté and develop initial flavors.
• Cheddar Cheese (1 cup): Melts beautifully on top for extra richness.
• Water (2 cups): Helps create the perfect sauce consistency.

Kitchen Tools for Old Fashioned Goulash

• Large Skillet (12-inch): Your go-to pan for browning beef and creating the entire goulash base with plenty of room for stirring.
• Wooden Spoon: Perfect for breaking up ground beef and mixing ingredients without scratching your skillet’s surface.
• Chef’s Knife (8-inch): Essential for dicing onions and mincing garlic quickly and precisely.
• Cutting Board: Provides a clean, stable surface for chopping ingredients safely.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Helps ensure accurate ingredient quantities for consistent flavor.
• Can Opener: Needed to open tomato sauce and diced tomato cans smoothly.
• Cheese Grater: Allows you to shred fresh cheddar cheese for melting on top of the goulash.
• Stirring Spatula: Great for scraping down skillet sides and ensuring even cooking.

Step By Step Instructions For Old Fashioned Goulash

Best Tips For Old Fashioned Goulash

• Break your ground beef into tiny pieces while cooking to ensure even browning and prevent clumping.
• Sauté onions and garlic with the beef to develop a rich, deep base that makes the goulash taste amazing.
• Mix spices thoroughly into the sauce to distribute flavor evenly across every bite of your goulash.
• Stir macaroni occasionally while cooking to prevent sticking and ensure each noodle gets coated with the delicious sauce.
• Sprinkle shredded cheddar on top and let it melt naturally for a creamy, comforting final touch that brings the whole dish together.

Old Fashioned Goulash With Comfort Variations

• Plant-Based Protein Swap: Replace ground beef with crumbled plant-based meat or lentils, keeping all other ingredients the same and adjusting liquid slightly to maintain moisture.
• Spicy Southwest Kick: Add diced green chiles, swap Italian seasoning for taco seasoning, and use pepper jack cheese to give your goulash a zesty southwestern flavor profile.
• Low-Carb Cauliflower Version: Substitute elbow macaroni with riced cauliflower or cauliflower florets, reducing cooking time to 8-10 minutes and maintaining the same rich beef and tomato base.
• Gluten-Free Friendly: Use gluten-free pasta, confirm all sauce ingredients are gluten-free, and select a certified gluten-free soy sauce to make this classic comfort dish safe for sensitive diets.

Old Fashioned Goulash Comfort Serving Suggestions

• Perfect Portion Sizes: Serve this goulash in large, hearty bowls – about 1.5 cups per person works perfectly for a satisfying meal.
• Quick Side Salad Pairing: Toss together a crisp green salad with cucumber and tomato to balance the rich, meaty flavors of your goulash.
• Bread Companion: Warm garlic bread or crusty French bread makes an excellent side to soak up all those delicious sauce drippings.
• Cheese Lover’s Tip: Sprinkle extra sharp cheddar or a blend of cheeses on top for an extra tangy kick that takes your goulash to the next level.

Old Fashioned Goulash Storage Notes

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The flavors actually get better as they sit, so your next meal might taste even more delicious.
• When freezing, transfer the goulash to a freezer-safe container without the cheese. It’ll keep well for 2-3 months, and your future self will thank you for the easy meal.
• Reheat refrigerated goulash in a saucepan over medium heat, adding a splash of water to prevent sticking. Stir gently to keep the pasta from breaking apart.
• If the goulash seems dry when reheating, sprinkle a bit more cheese on top to restore its creamy texture and bring back that fresh-from-the-stove flavor.

Old Fashioned Goulash Common Queries

Old Fashioned Goulash Recipe

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4.9 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Savory old fashioned goulash brings comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table, warming hearts with its rich, meaty embrace. Hearty pasta, tender beef, and a robust tomato sauce create a classic meal that feels like a warm hug after a long day.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes

Seasonings and Aromatics:

• 1 large onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 bay leaves

Supporting Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups water

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Instructions

1. Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a large skillet at medium-high heat. Crumble 2 pounds ground beef, cooking until no pink remains and achieving a deep brown color.
2. Chop 1 large onion and mince 3 garlic cloves. Toss these into the browned meat, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until onions turn translucent and release their aromatic sweetness.
3. Dump 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce and 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes into the skillet. Pour 2 cups water and stir everything to create a rich, hearty base.
4. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper across the mixture. Drop in 2 bay leaves for subtle depth.
5. Splash 2 tablespoons soy sauce and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce into the skillet. Allow the liquid to simmer at 200°F for exactly 20 minutes, developing complex flavors.
6. Fish out the bay leaves and discard them. Stir in 2 cups elbow macaroni, cooking at a gentle bubble for 12-15 minutes until pasta reaches perfect tenderness.
7. Scatter 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese over the hot goulash. Let the cheese melt for 2-3 minutes, creating a tempting golden blanket across the dish.

Notes

• Use lean ground beef to keep the dish less greasy and prevent excess oil from forming.
• Let the goulash simmer slowly to develop deep, rich flavors and allow the seasonings to blend completely.
• For a gluten-free version, swap regular elbow macaroni with chickpea or gluten-free pasta alternatives.
• Fresh herbs like parsley or basil sprinkled on top can brighten the dish and add a fresh flavor contrast to the hearty meat sauce.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Sautéed
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Hungarian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 497 kcal
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 670 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 37 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg