Dive into the ultimate comfort food with this incredibly easy and flavorful American goulash recipe. This hearty dish, often called Johnny Marzetti or Slumgullion, is perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners.
You’ll love its rich taste and the incredible convenience of cooking it all in just one pot, minimizing cleanup. Get ready for a satisfying meal everyone will adore!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This American Goulash
This simple American goulash recipe combines classic flavors with incredible ease, making it a guaranteed family favorite.
- Ultimate Comfort Food: It’s a rich, savory, and wonderfully hearty meal perfect for any day.
- Simple Ingredients, Big Taste: You use everyday pantry staples to create a dish bursting with flavor.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Ideal for chilly evenings, a quick weeknight dinner, or feeding a crowd at a gathering.
- One-Pot Wonder: Everything cooks in a single pot, making cleanup incredibly simple and stress-free.
- Crowd-Pleaser: This generous recipe is fantastic for sharing with friends and family.
Ingredients
Gather these simple ingredients for your ultimate American goulash masterpiece. Each component adds depth and flavor to this beloved comfort food.
- 6 bacon strips, julienne
- 2 pounds 85/15 ground beef
- 1 peeled, small-diced yellow onion
- 2 peeled, finely minced, medium-sized carrots
- 1 finely minced rib of celery
- 3 finely minced cloves of garlic
- 1 seeded, medium-diced green bell pepper
- 1 seeded, medium-diced red bell pepper
- 2 teaspoons dry oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups beef stock
- 2 cups medium-diced fresh tomatoes
- 28 ounce can hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 pound cooked and chilled macaroni pasta
- coarse salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Notes & Substitutions
- You can easily adapt this dish to fit your preferences or what you have on hand. For ground beef, try chuck, sirloin, or even ground turkey or chicken for a lighter meal.
- Feel free to boost your veggies by adding zucchini, mushrooms, or corn. Chicken or vegetable stock work perfectly if you don’t have beef stock.
- Using all canned tomatoes is fine for extra convenience. Monterey Jack or Colby cheese are excellent cheddar alternatives.
- Finally, penne, fusilli, or rotini pasta can substitute macaroni.
Equipment
Having the right tools makes cooking this hearty dish even easier. You’ll need just a few kitchen essentials to prepare this amazing American goulash.
- Large rondeau pot or Dutch oven (a heavy-bottomed pot)
- Slotted spoon
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Sharp knife and cutting board
Instructions For American Goulash
Follow these step-by-step instructions to create your flavorful, one-pot American goulash.
- In a large rondeau or enameled cast iron pot over low-medium heat, add in the bacon and cook until crispy browned, which takes about 6 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, set the crispy bacon aside in a bowl, leaving as much rendered fat in the pan as possible.
- Next, turn the heat up to medium-high. Add in the ground beef and spread it across the pan to cover more surface area for a better sear. Let it sit untouched for 3 to 4 minutes. Then, break up the ground beef using a wooden spoon and continue to cook until browned and cooked through, which takes about 2 to 3 more minutes. When it’s done, season the beef with salt and pepper and mix to combine. Using a slotted spoon, set the ground beef aside, leaving as much fat in the pan as possible.
- Add in the onions, turn the heat down to medium. Gently season with salt and sauté for 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and cook until caramelized for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the celery and carrots, gently season with salt, and stir over low-medium heat for 10 minutes to sweat them.
- Next, add in the bell peppers, gently season with salt, and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes over medium heat. They should be a little brown on the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 to 45 seconds. Pour in the diced tomatoes and stew them down to help deglaze the pan.
- Stir in the oregano, bay leaves, and paprika until combined. Then stir in the tomato paste. Cook while constantly stirring until it becomes a rust-like color, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Deglaze with beef stock and then add in the crushed tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. It should be delicious at this stage.
- Stir in all the beef and most of the bacon and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in the cheese until completely melted. This is your delicious American goulash sauce.
- If you are serving it on a single order basis, combine a cup or two of the goulash with the cooked macaroni and serve with additional shredded cheese and leftover crispy bacon.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
These tips ensure your American goulash turns out perfect every time. Avoid common pitfalls and enhance the flavors effortlessly.
- Prevent Mushy Pasta: Always cook macaroni al dente, rinse it, and chill it separately. This prevents it from overcooking when combined with the hot sauce. Learn how to achieve perfectly al dente pasta for the best texture in your dishes.
- Choose the Right Pot: A heavy-bottomed rondeau or Dutch oven distributes heat evenly, preventing scorching and building richer flavors.
- Build Flavor Layers: Take time browning the ground beef and caramelizing the onions. These steps are crucial for a deeply flavorful sauce.
- Fix Thin Sauce: If your goulash sauce is too thin, simmer it longer uncovered to reduce. Alternatively, whisk a teaspoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water and stir into the simmering sauce.
- Slow Cooker Method: Sauté your meats and vegetables on the stovetop first. Then, transfer everything to a slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Serving Suggestions, Storage, & Variations
This versatile American goulash shines on its own, but these ideas will make it even better.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve this hearty dish with warm, crusty bread or soft dinner rolls for soaking up the delicious sauce.
- Pair it with a fresh, leafy green salad dressed with a light vinaigrette to balance the richness.
- Offer classic sides like creamy coleslaw or sweet cornbread for a truly comforting meal.
Storage & Make-Ahead
- Make the goulash sauce up to 3 days in advance. It often tastes even better the next day!
- Store the sauce and cooked macaroni separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze the sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef stock or water if needed to loosen the sauce. You can also microwave individual portions.
Variations
- Spicy Version: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of your favorite chili powder with the paprika for a kick.
- Vegetable Boost: Stir in a cup of frozen peas or corn during the last 5 minutes of cooking for extra color and nutrition.
- Herb Swap: Replace dry oregano with 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning for a slightly different aromatic profile.
- Creamy Twist: Stir in a splash (about ¼ cup) of heavy cream along with the shredded cheese for an extra luxurious sauce.
Nutrition Information
This American goulash is a robust and satisfying meal, packed with flavor and hearty ingredients. It provides a good balance of protein and carbohydrates to keep you full and energized.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 650 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 39 g |
| Protein | 35 g |
| Fat | 40 g |
| Saturated Fat | 17 g |
| Trans Fat | 1 g |
| Cholesterol | 120 mg |
| Sodium | 536 mg |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 17 g |
| Serving Size | 1 serving |
These values are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is American goulash?
It’s a hearty, one-pot pasta dish featuring ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni, often seasoned with paprika and other spices. It’s a popular, family-friendly meal.
How is it different from Hungarian goulash?
American goulash is a tomato-based, ground beef, and macaroni dish, while traditional Hungarian goulash is a stew made with larger cuts of beef, onions, and lots of paprika, served without pasta.
Can I cook the pasta directly in the sauce?
While possible, it’s generally best to cook pasta separately. Cooking it in the sauce can lead to mushy pasta and an overly thick, starchy sauce.
Conclusion
This one-pot American goulash is a true culinary hug in a bowl, delivering warmth and satisfaction with every spoonful. Its beginner-friendly steps and customizable nature make it perfect for busy parents and new cooks alike.
You’ll love how quickly you can get this flavorful, hearty meal on the table, complete with easy cleanup. Don’t wait; bring this cherished comfort food classic to your family dinner table tonight and create delicious memories!
One-Pot American Goulash
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook turkey bacon in a large pot over low-medium heat for 6–7 minutes until crispy. Remove and set aside.
- Increase heat to medium-high, add ground beef, and sear for 3–4 minutes. Break apart, cook 2–3 more minutes, season, then remove and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium. Sauté onion with salt for 5 minutes, then caramelize on low for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add celery and carrots, season, and sweat for 10 minutes over low-medium heat.
- Add bell peppers, season, and sauté 3–4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, deglaze pan, then stir in oregano, bay leaves, and paprika. Add tomato paste and cook 3–4 minutes, stirring.
- Deglaze with beef stock, add crushed tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in cooked beef and most of the bacon.
- Mix in cheese until melted. Combine with chilled pasta before serving and garnish with remaining bacon and extra cheese if desired.
Nutrition
Notes
- Bacon swapped with turkey bacon.
- Ground beef can be replaced with ground turkey or chicken.
- Penne or rotini can substitute macaroni.
- Chicken or vegetable stock are great alternatives to beef stock.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Want more recipes like this?
Follow me on Facebook for daily comfort food ideas and cooking tips.
You can also find and save my recipes on Pinterest to make them anytime.
