Ahhh yes 😌 goulash—warm, hearty, and deeply comforting. I’ll give you both vibes so you can pick your lane: American-style (weeknight classic) or Hungarian-style (old-world, paprika-forward).
🍲 American Goulash (Easy & Cozy)
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups beef broth or water
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & black pepper
- Optional: 1 cup shredded cheddar
Instructions
- Brown beef with onion; drain excess fat. Add garlic.
- Stir in tomatoes, sauce, broth, and seasonings.
- Simmer 10 minutes, add macaroni.
- Cook 12–15 minutes until pasta is tender.
- Stir in cheese if using and serve.
🇭🇺 Hungarian Goulash (Traditional & Rich)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
- 2 onions, sliced
- 3 tbsp oil or lard
- 2–3 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika
- 1 tsp caraway seeds (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 4 cups beef broth
- Salt & black pepper
- Potatoes or egg noodles (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté onions in oil until golden.
- Remove from heat, stir in paprika (don’t burn it!).
- Add beef, garlic, caraway, tomato, and pepper.
- Return to heat, add broth, season.
- Simmer covered 2–2½ hours until tender.
- Add potatoes in last 30 minutes if using.
🔥 Goulash Tips
- Hungarian version is paprika-forward, not tomato-heavy
- Low and slow = tender beef
- Even better the next day
If you want, I can give a slow cooker goulash, one-pot weeknight version, or old-school grandma-style that tastes like it’s been simmering all day.
