This recipe for Grandma's American Goulash is pure comfort food made all in one pot. Made with simple ingredients: ground beef, canned tomatoes and macaroni.
GRANDMA'S AMERICAN GOULASH (GROUND BEEF)
We call this recipe "American Goulash" because even though it is called goulash, it's not the Hungarian version with paprika and whole cuts of meat. It goes by a lot of different names: SLUMGULLION, AMERICAN CHOP SUEY, JOHNNY MARZETTI (just to name a few.) This is my husband's Grandma's recipe for this classic favorite.
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE:
- Add in additional veggies your family enjoys! Green peppers, diced tomatoes or mushrooms would all be great additions.
- This is a great pantry meal. So, if you have pasta shells rather than macaroni noodles - use those. This recipe shouldn't be complicated!
- Try switching up some ground Italian sausage for the ground beef. Or use ground turkey or ground pork if you have it!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
ground beef
onion
garlic
crushed tomatoes
tomato sauce
sugar
Italian seasoning
salt and pepper
macaroni noodles
grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
HOW TO MAKE GRANDMA'S AMERICAN GOULASH:
In a large saucepan over medium heat, brown beef along with onion and garlic.
Drain excess grease. Stir in tomatoes (with juices) and tomato sauce.
Season with sugar, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Then add in cooked pasta and stir.
Allow to simmer for another 5 minutes. Sprinkle with a little grated Parmesan cheese.
Enjoy!
LOOKING FOR MORE COMFORT FOOD RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!
INSTANT POT AMERICAN GOULASH
AMISH COUNTRY CASSEROLE
PIZZA PASTA BAKE
HAMBURGER HASH
JALAPENO POPPER MAC & CHEESE
INSTANT POT ITALIAN STUFFED PEPPERS
EASY BUBBLE UP LASAGNA
CROCK POT UNSTUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS
GRANDMA'S AMERICAN GOULASH
This American Goulash is pure comfort food made all in one pot. Made with simple ingredients: ground beef, canned tomatoes and macaroni.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 434kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 (15 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 cup elbow macaroni pasta, cooked measured before cooking
- grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, over medium heat, brown beef along with onion and garlic.
- Drain excess grease.
- Stir in tomatoes (with juices) and tomato sauce.
- Season with sugar, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper.
- Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Then add in cooked pasta and stir.
- Allow to simmer for another 5 minutes then serve.
- Sprinkle with a little grated Parmesan cheese.
Video
Notes
Please add in additional veggies your family enjoys! Green peppers, diced tomatoes or mushrooms would all be great additions.
Nutrition
Calories: 434kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 515mg | Potassium: 861mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 475IU | Vitamin C: 13.9mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 4.6mg
Nutritional Disclaimer
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Originally published: August 2013
Updated & republished: April 2020
This is close to the recipe my ex-mother-in-law used to make but she used both canned spaghetti and kidney beans. I like this recipe and will definately use if because of everthing being fresh and not a lot of preservatives. I changed the canned tomatoes and tomatoe sauce to and used my own homemade spaghetti sauce from my garden grown tomatoes. It was wonderful. I also used 16 oz. of pasta as suggested by another reviewer. Thanks for sharing Brandie.
This is such a sweet comment! Thank you Kathi!!
Has anyone tried it with ground chicken? And what if I chose not to add sugar?
I am pretty sure "American Goulash" was a recipe that came about during WWII rationing. It to me represents "comfort food". My mother grew up during the Depression and WWII and this was supper for us many evenings. Mom used whatever she had -- green pepper, celery, always onions, chopped tomatoes and just a little sugar. I think powdered onion and powdered garlic, salt and pepper, elbow mac. No cheese. Usually a pan of corn bread. And jello with fruit. Thank you for the trip down memory lane.
I have several recipes for goulash, but this is one of my favorites. I have made this several times. I usually add a bit more pasta (whole wheat), and also like the addition of green pepper and canned mushrooms. Very filling and inexpensive. Brings back those childhood memories although this is better than mom's was.
Love, love it! I found this recipe several years ago when I was looking for suggestions and measurements for the seasoning for goulash of my childhood memories. I could never quite get it right. Now it is perfect every time. This is in my favorites collection of regular quick, savory, inexpensive meals that everyone likes. Thank you so much!
I have looked for a recipe for Goulash since 1989, when my Mom passed away. She made the best goulash! Her recipe was nowhere in her cookbooks.
I made this goulash recipe yesterday and added corn, like my Mom did. I used corn that I had frozen from our garden and cut it off the cob. Canned corn is good too.
My husband told me “I think you have it - it is like your Mom’s”!! I was so glad!! It is like my Mom’s!! Thank you so much for this recipe!! My search is over and my guess is that Mom is looking down from Heaven, with a smile on her face! Thank you again!!
See my previous comments. Great recipe!