Grandma's Goulash Recipe (2024)

4.35 from 138 votes

ByStacie VaughanOn Updated

32 Comments

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This Grandma’s Goulash is a comforting one-pot meal just like Grandma used to make! Enjoy tender noodles in a savory tomato-based meat sauce for an easy, delicious meal.

Grandma's Goulash Recipe (1)

My Grandma June’s long-time partner, Clarence, was a beef farmer. Ground beef was a staple at her house. Beef and potatoes was Clarence’s favorite meal so whenever I visited I knew to expect to eat comfort food. Her Hamburger Soup was amazing!

This goulash recipe is more of an American Goulash with it’s tomato base, pasta and loads of ground beef. It’s a quick and affordable dinner idea to whip up for your family. I’m always full after eating a big heaping bowl of Grandma’s Goulash.

My grandma passed away in 2012 and I miss her dearly. I still cry when I think about her. We were very close. I love sharing recipes that remind me of her like this recipe. Grandma’s are so special.

It’s a little like a Hamburger Helper, but homemade which is 100% better, in my opinion. My fiancé ate all the leftovers himself. They lasted only a day in the fridge.

Grandma's Goulash Recipe (2)

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

For this simple recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients.

  • Ground beef
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Celery salt
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Macaroni noodles
  • Tomato juice
  • Water
  • Beef bouillon cubes
  • Pepper
  • Green onions (for garnish)
Grandma's Goulash Recipe (3)

How to Make Grandma’s Goulash

  • Step One: Add ground beef, onions, garlic and salt to a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook, stirring often, until beef is browned.
  • Step Two: Add beef bouillon cubes to water and stir to dissolve. Add to skillet and stir.
Grandma's Goulash Recipe (4)
  • Step Three: Add tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt and pepper to skillet and stir. Bring to a boil.
  • Step Four: Reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Step Five: Add macaroni noodles. Cover and simmer on medium low for 20 minutes or until noodles are tender. Stir often so the noodles don’t stick to the bottom of the skillet.
  • Step Six: Garnish with green onions and serve hot.
Grandma's Goulash Recipe (5)

Equipment Needed

These kitchen tools will help you make this recipe.

This post contains affiliate links.

Grandma's Goulash Recipe (6)

Can You Freeze Grandma’s Goulash?

Yes, you can freeze Grandma’s Goulash. Prepare the recipe and let it cool. Then store it in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.

How to Store Grandma’s Goulash

If you end up having leftovers, store them in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the microwave for a few minutes and it will still taste delicious!

Grandma's Goulash Recipe (7)

Can I Use Other Meat instead of Ground Beef?

If you don’t have ground beef, you could substitute ground chicken, ground turkey or ground pork in its place.

More Ground Beef Recipes

  • Texas Beef Skillet
  • Beef Noodle Bake
  • Beef Nacho Bake
  • Garden Vegetable Beef Skillet
  • Cheesy BBQ Beef Casserole
  • Cheesy Hamburger Supper
  • Shipwreck Casserole
  • Mom’s Macaroni
  • Tater Tot Casserole
Grandma's Goulash Recipe (8)

You’ll also like Stovetop Mac and Cheese, Meatball Sub Casserole, Baked Macaroni and Cheese and Tuna Noodle Casserole.

Do you have any recipes that you love from your grandma?

Follow me on Instagram@simplystacieblog, Facebook atSimply Stacie, TikTok@simplystacierecipesor Pinterest at@simplystacieand let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.

Grandma's Goulash Recipe (9)

Rate this Recipe

4.35 from 138 votes

Grandma’s Goulash

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Servings 6

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

A comforting one-pot meal just like Grandma used to make! Enjoy tender noodles in a savory tomato-based meat sauce for an easy, delicious meal.

Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup sweet onions chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 ½ tsp celery salt
  • 1 ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups macaroni noodles uncooked
  • 2 ½ cups tomato juice
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 beef bouillon cubes
  • dash pepper
  • green onions sliced, for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Add ground beef, onions, garlic and salt to a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook, stirring often, until beef is browned.

  • Add beef bouillon cubes to water and stir to dissolve. Add to skillet and stir.

  • Add tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt and pepper to skillet and stir. Bring to a boil.

  • Reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Add macaroni noodles. Cover and simmer on medium low for 20 minutes or until noodles are tender. Stir often so the noodles don’t stick to the bottom of the skillet.

  • Garnish with green onions and serve hot.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 1198mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Course Main Dishes

Cuisine American

Keyword Grandma’s Goulash

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Grandma's Goulash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do people put sugar in goulash? ›

Understand the sugar is to balance the acidity of the tomato's not make the sauce sweet. It's the same reason you add a little salt to some baked goods. You balance a little of the sweetness with a savory so you don't just get a saccharine tasting sweet.

What is traditional goulash made of? ›

It is made with simple ingredients like meat, peppers and root vegetables elevated to perfection by the use of Hungary's most famous spice: paprika. Goulash can be made with beef or pork but the traditional way of making it is with beef.

How to obtain delicious goulash? ›

After defeating the Great Snowboar King and getting his meat, players will need to give it to Harris. He will then give players the Goulash recipe and request for players to make it for him. The Goulash recipe requires two pieces of Chilled Meat, two carrots, and one tomato to create.

What is American Goulash made of? ›

American goulash draws inspiration from the original dish, but it is less like a stew and more like a one-pot meal. It features ground beef, pasta (usually macaroni) and tomatoes.

What is the difference between Hungarian goulash and regular goulash? ›

Hungarian Goulash is a thick meat and vegetable stew with a broth that's heavily seasoned with paprika, while American Goulash is a quick dish made from ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It also goes by the name of American Chop Suey.

Is goulash the same as beefaroni? ›

American Goulash (Beefaroni) This easy, one-pot American Goulash (aka Beefaroni) is the epitome of comfort food and a meal the entire family will love! It starts with a flavorful homemade meat sauce, then macaroni noodles cooked in the sauce, and finished with a sprinkle of cheese.

What is the difference between American and European goulash? ›

American goulash is a one-pot dish of ground beef, pasta (often elbow macaroni), tomatoes and cheese. Sometimes it includes paprika, like its Hungarian counterpart. Since American goulash calls for ground beef, it cooks much faster than Hungarian goulash which relies on low-and-slow cooking to render the beef tender.

How do you make goulash taste less tomatoey? ›

sweetening : a bit of sweetener can counteract harsh flavours and enhance aromats. Something like honey or caramelised onions is generally better than refined white sugar, black treacle also works well with beef as it has a bit of bitterness to balance the sweetness.

Why is American goulash so different? ›

American goulash is more of a pasta and ground beef dish

Owing more influence to Italian-American cuisine than Hungarian, paprika isn't even a consistent addition, per Syracruse.com. The nostalgic family meal is synonymous with American chop suey, another macaroni-based one-pot dish.

What do you eat with goulash? ›

Serve up a hearty goulash for the ultimate comforting stew on winter nights. Searching for the perfect accompaniment? Try mashed potato, dumplings or your favourite veg.

What is goulash sauce made of? ›

Sauce – This goulash recipe starts with jarred pasta sauce or marinara sauce and canned tomatoes. Water or broth are added to cook the pasta. Seasoning – Onion, garlic, Italian Seasoning, and bay leaf flavor the sauce.

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? ›

What is the difference between Stroganoff and Goulash? The primary difference between Stroganoff and Goulash comes down to the point that Stroganoff is a gravy whereas Goulash is a stew.

Why do you put sugar in meat sauce? ›

A little sugar can make the rest of the flavors shine a little brighter, akin to adding vanilla to a chocolate cake. The goal is to amplify the natural sweetness of the tomatoes, not to turn the sauce sugary, so start with a pinch and work up if needed.

What role does sugar play in sauce? ›

Sugar adds sweetness, and balances acidic and bitter flavours in tomato and vinegar-based sauces, dressings and brines; Preservation. Sugar stops bacteria from growing and delays spoilage.

What does adding sugar to meat do? ›

It's a natural tenderizer.

Sugar starts working on your cut of protein long before it hits the pan. It helps to keep the meat tender, especially the longer you let it sit before cooking but even with a much shorter rest time (a few minutes for these chops compared to a couple days for a turkey).

Why do you add sugar when cooking? ›

Sugar is undeniably sweet, and it imparts that quality to the foods in which it's used as well. Using a little or a lot, you can easily vary the level of sweetness in your recipes. And by choosing from different types of sugars with varying levels of molasses content, you can change the flavor profile as well.

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