American Goulash

American Goulash Recipe – Macaroni Beef Sauté – everything cooks in the same skillet. Ready in 20 minutes! Ground beef, macaroni, onion, garlic, basil, Italian seasoning, red pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato juice. Comfort food at its best! A quick and easy weeknight meal that the whole family enjoys!!

skillet of goulash topped with parmesan cheese with text overlay

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Easy One-Pot Dinner

This Macaroni Beef Sauté isn’t fancy, but it is a great weeknight meal. I had some tomato juice leftover from making Italian Pot Roast earlier this week and I thought this would be a good way to use it up. My mom made a dish very similar to this when I was growing up. I changed the recipe to suit our tastes (added the Italian Seasoning, basil, and red pepper flakes) and it turned out great. I will definitely be making this again – probably after we eat pot roast again.

skillet of macaroni and beef pasta

How to Make American Goulash

This dish is super easy to make. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain excess grease. Add macaroni noodles and garlic to the skillet and cook until the macaroni turns slightly yellow. Add tomato juice, onion flakes, salt, pepper, basil, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and Worcestershire sauce to the pan. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook until pasta is tender. Garnish with parsley and parmesan cheese

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can substitute ground turkey or ground pork.
  • You can use any pasta you prefer.
    • I like macaroni. Fusilli, campanelle, and penne would also work well.
  • Add your favorite vegetables to the dish:
    • onion
    • bell pepper
    • diced tomatoes
    • stewed tomatoes
    • kidney beans
  • Adjust the seasoning to your family’s personal preferences. Some of our favorite variations are:
    • rosemary
    • thyme
    • soy sauce
    • oregano
    • paprika
  • I use tomato juice.
    • You can substitute a combination of half tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce and half beef broth.
    • I suggest using low-sodium beef broth.
  • I garnish the pasta with parmesan cheese. This is equally delicious with some sharp cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese.
    • Omit the cheese if you prefer.
  • Can I freeze goulash? Yes! Cool the pasta mixture to room temperature. Transfer the food to a freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 4 months.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
    • Reheat in the microwave.
skillet of macaroni and beef pasta

What to Serve with American Goulash

This pasta is a super quick and easy weeknight meal. It tastes great and everyone enjoys it! When it comes to what to serve alongside this dish, the possibilities are endless. Our favorite side is sautéed green beans and warm rolls. For a lighter option, a crispy green salad with homemade vinaigrette is a great choice. No matter what you serve with this pasta, it is sure to become a weeknight favorite!

Looking for more side dish ideas? Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this beef goulash:

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skillet of goulash topped with parmesan cheese with text overlay

American Goulash

Yield: 4 people
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
American Goulash Recipe – Macaroni Beef Sauté – everything cooks in the same skillet. Ready in 20 minutes! Ground beef, macaroni, onion, garlic, basil, Italian seasoning, red pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato juice. Comfort food at its best! A quick and easy weeknight meal that the whole family enjoys!!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 cup elbow macaroni uncooked
  • 1 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • cup tomato juice
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp basil
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • dash red pepper flakes optional
  • 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • grated parmesan cheese for topping

Instructions:

  • In a large skillet, cook beef until no longer pink, drain fat. Add macaroni, and garlic to the skillet and cook until macaroni turns slightly yellow.
  • Add tomato juice, onion flakes, salt, pepper, basil, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine.
  • Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes, until pasta is tender. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese before serving.

Steph

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Comments

  1. I added a couple cans of diced tomatoes, bell peppers and some frozen corn!! Sooooo good!!! 😃 My family devours it!!

  2. I made this last night, minus the red pepper flakes so my kids would eat it. HOLY COW! So good. My 8 year old son had 2 whole bowls. YUMMY, fo' sho'!

  3. I might make something like this tonight, except more like chili mac, because I already have chorizo out. Man this looks seriously good!

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