Old Fashioned Goulash Recipe with Ground Beef

Name: Old Fashioned Goulash Recipe with Ground Beef
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Continental
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1 tsp olive oil; 1 onion, chopped; 1 bell pepper, chopped (whatever color you have on hand); 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp Italian seasoning; 2 bay leaves; 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce; 1 ⅔ cups water; 1 – 28 oz can crushed tomatoes; ½ cup frozen peas; 1 cup elbow macaroni, uncooked

Beef | Comfort Foods | Dinners | Main Dishes | Pasta

ByLisa February 8, 2021November 4, 2026

60 Comments

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Old Fashioned Goulash made with ground beef and pasta in one pot, makes an easy weeknight dinner that serves 6 and freezes well for busy nights.

Overhead shot of Old Fashioned Goulash in the skillet

There’s nothing quite like a big pot of this Old Fashioned Goulash to bring a little nostalgia and comfort to the dinner table! This classic, hearty dish combines tender elbow macaroni, tender ground beef, and a rich, savory tomato sauce with simple seasonings that bring everything together beautifully.

It’s an easy, budget-friendly, one-pot meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights but comforting enough to make you feel like you’re sitting down to dinner at Grandma’s house. Best of all, it’s made with everyday ingredients, comes together with minimal fuss, and is sure to become a family favorite!

The Great Goulash Debate!

I based this recipe on what I would call an old-fashioned American goulash recipe. It’s prepared more like a hamburger goulash or casserole rather than a traditional Hungarian goulash.

I know lots of people get very passionate about their goulash and there can be quite the discussion about the differences between the Hungarian version and the American version.

Can I just say that regardless of the different versions, this particular version is an easy dinner recipe, doesn’t time much time to bring together and frankly, is really delicious!

Plus, I made some updates to cut down on sodium (because these goulashes tend to be sodium-heavy) and added in some additional veggies. This has now become one of my family’s favorite recipes and I believe it will become one of yours also!

What Makes This Recipe Great

This recipe is great because it doesn’t try to overcomplicate comfort food. It uses affordable, simple ingredients found in your local grocery store, builds flavor in layers, and turns that all into one big satisfying meal.

The biggest selling point? It’s the kind of dinner that feels like something Grandma would make for your whole family, and isn’t that sometimes the most comforting thing of all!?

Everything cooks in one pot – The pasta cooks right in the tomato and beef mixture allowing it to absorb all that savory flavor (plus, fewer dishes to wash!).
A thick, hearty tomato sauce – In addition to hearty ground beef, using crushed tomatoes instead of tomato sauce gives the dish a slightly chunky texture and a really nice consistency
Perfect for busy weeknights – It takes just 45 minutes to make from start to finish, with only about 20 minutes of active prep time. That’s one pf the best parts of a one-pot meal.
Wonderful leftovers – Next day goulash is so good and has an even richer flavor as the ingredients have more time to come together. And, it stores and freezes well.

What to Serve with Old Fashioned Goulash

While this easy goulash recipe is a satisfying meal all on its own, it’s always enjoyable to find different types of sides to pair to make it the kind of meal perfect for you and your family. Here are a few suggestions:

Salad
On the lighter side, a salad is always a great choice. Some of my favorites include this Chunky Gazpacho Salad, a Creamy and Crunchy Apple Slaw, or this simple Field Greens Salad.

Vegetables
We can always claim to be “healthy” by eating our veggies! So, pair a big bowl of old-fashioned goulash with these fun Parmesan Green Bean “Fries”, bring out the air fryer for some Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, or bring a little bit of heat with Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Spicy Mustard Vinaigrette.

Bread
My entire family loves bread with pretty much every meal. So, here are a few bread recipes that are a big hit with my family and friends:

Overhead shot of the finished Old Fashioned Goulash in the skillet

How to Store and Freeze Old Fashioned Goulash

Make-Ahead Friendly

This easy recipe is make-ahead friendly. It stores really well either frozen or in the fridge.

To Store

Whether you are making ahead (or have leftover goulash) and you’re planning on serving within the next 3-4 days, simply make the recipe, let cool a bit and put into an airtight container.

If you want to make ahead and freeze or have leftover goulash you want to store for a longer period of time, again put the goulash into airtight containers. I will often do one larger container for a full family dinner, as well as several individual containers for quick, hearty lunches.

Once that is done, place in the freezer. It should keep well for up to three months.

To Reheat

I prefer reheating in the microwave.

Microwave Method
To reheat direct from the fridge or from thawed, microwave for 4-5 minutes, or until hot. You’ll have a quick, hearty goulash dinner ready in minutes!

From frozen, when you are ready to serve, take the container out of the freezer. If you have time to let it thaw, then it just needs a few minutes in the microwave to reheat.

If you want to move the process along faster, I defrost first in the microwave. Defrosting takes about 5-10 minutes. Once defrosted, give it another few minutes in the microwave on high to finish heating. Again, a wonderful, meaty goulash in no time.

Close up overhead shot of finished Old Fashioned Goulash in the bowl

Recommended Equipment

Dutch oven
Wooden spoon
Measuring cups and spoons
Sharp knife

Tips and Tricks

If you want to further bump up the veggies, cubed zucchini is a delicious addition.
In a pinch, if you’re out of crushed tomatoes, you can substitute tomato sauce. But, if you have crushed tomatoes on hand, you’ll definitely want to use them to get a thick, slightly chunky sauce.
The recipe can easily be doubled.
It also freezes well, so you can have half tonight and freeze the rest to have on hand for a busy night.

Ingredients Needed to Make Old Fashioned Goulash

Full instructions can be found below in the printable recipe card

Ground beef – I think 90% lean ground beef is the best choice for this recipe. It has enough fat to be flavorful, but doesn’t make the dish greasy.
Olive oil – I like the flavor that olive oil adds, but vegetable oil works as a substitution.
Onion – Red or yellow onion substitutes well.
Bell pepper – I prefer the sweeter flavor of red pepper, but a green pepper can be substituted.
Fresh garlic – Fresh is highly preferable, but 1/2 tsp powdered or granulated garlic can be substituted.
Salt
Black pepper
Dried Italian seasoning – This adds savory flavor.
Bay leaves – Make sure you remove from the pot and discard after cooking.
Low sodium soy sauce – I like low sodium to insure that the dish does not end up too salty.
Water
Crushed tomatoes – In a pinch tomato sauce can be substituted, but the crushed tomatoes create a much better texture.
Frozen peas – I find frozen to be highly superior to canned. The frozen peas stand up to simmering much better than canned peas.
Elbow macaroni noodles – If you don’t have this on hand, any short cut pasta, such as penne or cavatapi can be substituted.

How to Make Old Fashioned Goulash

Heat olive oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Add ground beef, break up with a spoon and brown until no longer pink.
Add onion, bell pepper and garlic, sauté for about 5 minutes until onion is translucent. Stir in salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and bay leaves.
Stir in water, crushed tomatoes and soy sauce, bring to a bubble. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.
Stir in peas and macaroni. Simmer covered for 20-25 minutes, until macaroni is tender.

Close up side shot of Old Fashioned Goulash in a bowl

Yield: 6