Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (2024)

ByCorey Created Updated

This post may contain affiliate links. Read mydisclosure policy.

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (2)

The Best Goulash Recipe Ever!

Hey guys, it’s time for a Halloween-themed recipe – “ghoul” ash!

Ha ha, just kidding. Actually, goulash is a hearty, meaty stew from Hungary. It’s usually made with beef, but you can also use lamb, veal, or pork. And it’s good pretty much any time the weather is chilly.

There are lots of different ways to make goulash. The original Hungarian recipe had beef with peppers, wine, and spices (especially paprika). Grandma’s easy version added tomatoes or tomato sauce, as well as noodles. And since beef, noodles, and tomatoes go so well with cheese, my version throws in some shredded sharp cheddar – because hey, recipes are supposed to evolve, right?

Email Me This Recipe!

Need to save time? Have this article emailed straight to your inbox+ sign up for all the latest recipes!

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (3)

This takes about 40 minutes to make, but only 10 to 15 minutes of that is actual cooking time. You brown the beef and drain it, then get it simmering in a big, deep skillet (or a Dutch oven) with tomatoes, beef broth and spices. After about 10 minutes, you stir in the noodles and let them cook until they’re tender. And right before you serve it, you yank out the bay leaves, sprinkle on the cheese, and cover it just long enough to let it melt.

The finished meal is hot, savory and incredibly filling – and there’s nothing in it that the average kid wouldn’t be happy to eat. On a cold night, it warms you right up from the inside out.

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (4)

Easy Goulash Recipe

Ingredients:

2 pounds lean ground beef
2 teaspoons seasoned salt, I used Lawry’s
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15oz) cans diced tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 cups beef broth
1 (15oz) can tomato sauce
1 TB dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 large bay leaves
2 cups dry elbow noodles
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
1 and 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

NOTE: if you do not have a large, deep skillet, you can use a large pot or dutch oven.

Directions:

  1. Season beef with seasoned salt. Saute ground beef and onions in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until cooked. Drain.Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (5)
  2. Add garlic, broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, oregano, and bay leaves Stir well. Cover and allow to simmer for 10-12 minutes.Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (6)
  3. Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to skillet, stir well cover with lid and simmer for about 12-18 minutes more, or until noodles are tender.
  4. Turn off heat, remove the bay leaves, and add shredded cheddar cheese. TIP. Place lid back on until cheese is melted.Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (7)

Enjoy!Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (8)

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (9)

Do you love Family Fresh Meals? Never miss out on FUN new meals or Easy Lunchbox Ideas for the FamilyandSIGN UPto have my posts sent right to your inbox! It’s EASY PEASY! JustCLICK HEREandenter your email!

XO
Corey, Darryl, Big D & Little D

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (10)

4.83 from 17 votes

click the stars to rate!

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe

Author Corey Valley

The Easy Goulash Recipe is hot, savory and incredibly filling – and there’s nothing in it that the average kid wouldn’t be happy to eat.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Email this recipe!

Get this recipe emailed straight to your inbox!

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 2 teaspoons seasoned salt, I used Lawry's
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 15oz cans diced tomatoes
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 15oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 TB dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 large bay leaves
  • 2 cups dry elbow noodles
  • Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1.5 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

Note: If you do not have a large deep skillet, you can use a large pot or dutch oven.

  • Season beef with seasoned salt. Saute ground beef and onions in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until cooked. Drain.

  • Add garlic, broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, oregano, and bay leaves Stir well. Cover and allow to simmer for 10-12 minutes.

  • Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to skillet, stir well cover with lid and simmer for about 12-18 minutes more, or until noodles are tender.

  • Turn off heat, remove the bay leaves, and add shredded cheddar cheese. TIP. Place lid back on until cheese is melted.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 587mg | Potassium: 583mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 185mg | Iron: 3.7mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.

Did You Make This Recipe?

Make sure to share it with me below!

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (11)

Grandma's Easy Goulash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you fix bland goulash? ›

weird one but you could stir in a soup mix (powdered) like oxtail soup and it can make it work .. My goulash recipe also has chunks of potatoe and red pepper in it. Add stir through a pot of soured cream at the end. Great with garlic foccacia or ciabatte too!

What do you serve with goulash? ›

Searching for the perfect accompaniment? Try mashed potato, dumplings or your favourite veg.

What country has the best goulash? ›

Hungary's most famous food, the goulash, is a crimson-hued beef soup laced with vegetables and imparting the sweet-sharp flavor of fresh paprika. The dish is named after the herdsmen in eastern Hungary — the gulyás — who prepared this hearty soup in large cast-iron kettles.

Is Hamburger Helper the same as goulash? ›

American goulash is very different. It generally has tomato sauce, macaroni and beef. It's almost like a homemade hamburger helper. American goulash is an easy dinner that can be prepped and ready to eat in just around 30 minutes.

What ingredient and taste that you would add to enhance the flavor of a bland stew without adding more salt? ›

The saltiness and flavor of soy sauce will improve a bland soup, stew, stir-fry and other savory dishes that have a liquid component. Add ketchup or tomato sauce. The acidic flavor adds one dimension, while any additional flavorings in the sauce will add depth to the dish too. Pour in a little Worcestershire sauce.

What to do if sauce is bland? ›

Your spaghetti sauce may taste bland due to insufficient seasoning. Try adding more salt, herbs (like basil, oregano, or thyme), and other flavor enhancers like garlic, onion, or red pepper flakes. Also, a dash of sugar can balance flavors and bring out the natural sweetness of tomatoes.

What is goulash called in the South? ›

American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, American Chop Suey, or even Beef-a-Roni, is an American comfort-food dish popular in the Midwest and South.

What is traditional goulash made of? ›

Goulash can be made with beef or pork but the traditional way of making it is with beef. Originally this was the signature dish of the herdsmen on the Hungarian Great Plain (puszta), the "Hungarian cowboys" who used to live a nomadic lifestyle and would cook it over the fire in a cauldron.

What is the difference between goulash and goulash? ›

There are two kinds of goulash: Hungarian goulash, which calls for the slow-simmered beef to be served alongside egg noodles, and American goulash, which pulls in ground beef and cooks the noodles in the pot alongside the sauce.

Is goulash better the next day? ›

This Goulash recipe is perfect for make ahead meals, meal prep or freezer meals. This is one of those unique recipes that tastes even better the next day, so bring on the make-ahead-meal to pull it out for those busy nights ahead!

What is the real name of goulash? ›

Gulyás. In Hungarian cuisine, traditional Gulyásleves (literally 'goulash soup'), bográcsgulyás, pörkölt, and paprikás were thick stews made by cattle herders and stockmen. These dishes can be made as soups rather than stews.

What is goulash in English? ›

a stew of beef or veal and vegetables, with paprika and other seasoning. a heterogeneous mixture; hodgepodge; jumble.

Is beefaroni and goulash the same thing? ›

Beefaroni is the same thing as American Goulash – the difference in what you call it is mostly regional.

Can you freeze homemade goulash? ›

Yes! This One Pot American Goulash recipe is very freezer-friendly. Just make sure to cool the goulash completely in the refrigerator first, then transfer to the freezer for long term storage. I suggest freezing goulash for three months maximum.

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? ›

Traditional goulash is a stew/soup, usually using a cheaper cut of meat suited to slow cooking. It usually contains potatoes and other vegetables, as well as noodles. A true stroganoff consists of paprika-dusted fillet steak quickly pan fried with mushrooms and onions in a sour cream and brandy sauce.

How do you add flavor to a bland dish? ›

Leave quicker-dissolving fine sea salt or table salt for times when you want it to meld into the finished dish. Salt-forward pantry staples are another way to go and can add other dimensions of umami-rich flavor. Contenders include soy sauce, fish sauce, parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce.

How do you add flavor to a bland casserole? ›

Depending on the dish, you can try adding more salt, pepper, garlic, onion, herbs, or spices to enhance the flavor. Add acid: Acidic ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, or lime juice can brighten up the flavors of a dish and make it taste less bland.

How do you add flavor to bland food? ›

Add an acid. After you've seared your meat or vegetables, add a splash of acid in the form of wine, vinegar, tomato paste or purée, or other spirit, like brandy. This flavor won't be especially noticeable at the end, but it will help to brighten the whole dish.

How do you make bland food taste better? ›

Umami is a savoury taste that can enhance the overall flavour of your dish. Adding umami-rich ingredients such as soy sauce, fish sauce, or mushrooms can help fix a bland dish very easily.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rueben Jacobs

Last Updated:

Views: 6413

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rueben Jacobs

Birthday: 1999-03-14

Address: 951 Caterina Walk, Schambergerside, CA 67667-0896

Phone: +6881806848632

Job: Internal Education Planner

Hobby: Candle making, Cabaret, Poi, Gambling, Rock climbing, Wood carving, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.