Our delicious American Goulash recipe has ground beef and elbow pasta cooked in a flavorful, cheesy, red sauce. It’s made all in one pan and is picky-eater approved!
Want more pasta dishes? Try Tuscan Chicken Pasta, Manicotti, Boursin Pasta, and Pastalaya!
American Goulash they’ll devour (even picky eaters!).
American Goulash they’ll devour (even picky eaters!).Whether you call it American Goulash or Beefaroni, you have to admit, this pasta dish a totally comfort classic! It’s made all in one pan in about 30 minutes, making it a winner for busy weeknights. I’ve also included instructions to make goulash in the instant pot or slow cooker.
How to make American Goulash (Beefaroni):
Make Sauce: Sauté onion in pan then add garlic. Add ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook, using a meat chopper or spatula to crumble it to small pieces. Add dry spices and cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour in tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, Worcestershire, and 1 ½ cups beef broth. Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes.
Cook Pasta: Add the additional ¾ cup broth and uncooked pasta. Cook until pasta is tender then stir in the cheese, allowing it to melt.
Freezing Instructions:
To Freeze: Allow to cool completely then place in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the fridge, then add a splash of broth when reheating, if needed.
Recipe Variations:
- Instant Pot: Push setting on Instant Pot to sauté then cook ground beef and onion. Drain grease, add spices, then cook for 1 minute. Turn off Instant Pot then stir in tomato sauce, paste, sugar, Worcestershire, and 1 ½ cups beef broth (don’t add any extra broth). Dump in macaroni noodles, stir, then close lid and seal and set to high pressure for 4 minutes. Do a quick release, stir, and add cheese.
- Crock Pot: Cook onion and ground beef in a pan on the stove then add spices and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, paste, sugar, Worcestershire, and 1 cup of beef broth. Cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours. Cook pasta separately according to package instructions, then stir in the cooked noodles and cheese, stirring until melted.
More One Pot Meals:
- Garlic Chicken
- Chicken Marsala Pasta
- Honey Mustard Chicken
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Chow Mein
- Breakfast Skillet
- Taco Soup
- Cottage Pie
- Classic Homemade Chili
- Baked Ziti
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Recipe
American Goulash (Beefaroni)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion , finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon EACH garlic powder, and paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon EACH dried oregano and chili powder
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 cups low-sodium beef broth , divided
- 1 ½ cups elbow noodles (8 oz) , uncooked
- 1 cup freshly grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Sauté onions and cook beef: Heat a large skillet with sides, over medium heat. Add oil. Once hot, add onion and saute for several minutes into tender and translucent. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Push onion to the side and add ground beef and season well with salt and pepper. Cook until browned, crumbling it into very small pieces as it cooks. Add all dry spices and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Finish sauce: Stir in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, Worcestershire and 1 ½ cups beef broth. Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes. Taste and add additional seasonings, if needed.
- Add pasta: Stir in additional ¾ cup broth and uncooked pasta. Cook until pasta is tender. Stir in freshly grated cheese and allow to melt. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe August 2021. Updated September 2024.
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This is just about the only way I can get my kids to eat meat. They love it!
I did the 2x version it was not good.WAY TOO MUCH tomatoe paste! I have a whole heck of a lot of food that no one wants. I do like the dry seasoning.
I usually make this a different way by cooking the pasta separate then combining them. It works better for me this way.
Really good base recipe! Simple and so tasty! Like others I lessened the tomato paste, maybe 1-2 Tbs. I used one pint of cherry tomatoes I had leftover instead of tomato sauce and water with beef buillon powder for broth. I added about 1/4 cup more water to finish cooking the noodles. Great!
I really enjoyed this recipe, it was easy to make, very hearty dish. I substituted 3tb ketchup for the tomato paste. Definately going to make this one again.
I absolutely love this recipe and make it often.
The flavor was good, but there was entirely too much tomato paste in this recipe which ruined it for us. I would love to try this again because it looks like something the kids would love, but next time I’ll use 1-2 Tbsp of tomato paste instead of 6.
This is the second time I’ve made this dish for my family, and it’s been a huge hit both times! All 6 of us approve. An amazing comfort food, packed with flavor! Give this a try when you’re wanting to switch up spaghetti night.
Instructions are confusing. I doubled this recipe, instructions for the broth does not change when doubled or tripled. I guessed. It shows 1 1/2 then 3/4 no matter what
Not a hit at my house. For the amount of ingredients it didn’t have much flavor and it was sort of bitter, I think too much tomato paste as others have said.
All I have is chicken broth. Wìll that work w this recipe?
That will work!
No where does it say when to put in the fresh minced garlic..
It’s at the end of step 1. “Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.” We’d love to hear your review of the recipe 🙂