Easy Beef Goulash

Travel back in time with Old Fashioned Beef Goulash, an American classic that promises heartwarming, homemade goodness in every bite! Dive into the comforting blend of pasta, ground beef, mushrooms, tomato sauce, and onion soup mix. This nostalgic pasta dish is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or cozy nights in.

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Easy Beef Goulash Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for an easy way to get dinner on the table, you can’t go wrong with this easy goulash recipe. It’s an old-fashioned dish that comes together quickly and easily with ingredients you probably have in your kitchen already.

Affordable, and easy to prepare, this vintage goulash recipe is perfect for lunch, dinner, or taking to your next potluck. It's a quick and easy ground beef and pasta dinner that you can make instead of Hamburger Helper.

What Makes Hamburger Goulash So Good?

American Goulash is a recipe your grandmother probably served before all the boxed mixes showed up on grocery store shelves. Making it yourself means fewer preservatives and a lot more flavor. Made with ground beef and pasta in a rich tomato-based sauce, this Hamburger Goulash is sure to please.

This dish is so versatile too, allowing you to add, remove, or substitute ingredients to make it your own. For instance, if you’d prefer a cheesy dish, or would like to toss in some bell peppers, you can do that. You can even turn this into a complete meal by adding some veggies into the mix!

Why You Should Try This Beef Goulash with Egg Noodles

Not only is this dish versatile, but it’s also so easy to make. Using ingredients you probably already have on hand, this beef goulash with egg noodles is made in one pan. Easy to make; easy to clean up!

And let’s talk about flavor. The tomato sauce made with mushrooms and dry onion mix gives this dish a rich, delicious flavor that will have everyone coming back for more. Whether you’re making this for your family, or taking it to a potluck, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients for Easy Beef Goulash

You will need:

• Ground beef
• Egg noodles
• Tomato sauce
• Water
• Sugar
• Dry onion soup mix
• Mushrooms
• Salt
• Black pepper

How to Make Beef Goulash

Here are the simple steps for making American beef goulash:

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet. Season it with salt and pepper while it’s cooking to ensure the meat is well-flavored. Drain any excess fat from the pan.

2. Once the ground beef is cooked, you’ll add the egg noodles, spreading them over the meat.
3. In a small bowl, combine the tomato sauce, water, sugar, onion soup mix, and mushroom pieces. Pour this sauce over the noodles, and don’t stir.

4. Cover the pan and let it cook for 15 minutes, or until the noodles are tender.
5. Stir and Voila! A delicious home-cooked goulash for your dining pleasure!

Recipe Variations

This dish is so versatile it's easy to make it your own. Here are a few ideas:

Pasta - this goulash recipe calls for egg noodles, but you can easily swap them out with macaroni, penne, shell pasta, ditalini, or fusilli. Simply replace the 3 cups of egg noodles with 2 cups of any pasta.

Cheese - you could add cheddar, parmesan, or shredded mozzarella.

Broth - if you want some extra beefy flavor in your goulash, replace the water with beef broth.

Vegetables - make this a one-pot meal by adding in some peas, spinach, onion, carrots, or bell peppers. If you do this, add the carrots in early so they cook thoroughly. Add softer veggies at the end.

What to Serve with Beef Goulash

Here are some suggestions:

• Bread - Garlic bread or
• Salad - simple green salad or a Caesar salad.
• Vegetables - Steamed or roasted vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, and corn.

It’s so easy to make this a full meal! 

How to Store Leftovers

Goulash makes a great make-ahead meal, and it’s easy to store and reheat.

Storing Leftovers (also works for make-ahead)

Store leftover beef goulash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freezing (also works for make-ahead):

Goulash can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Place it in a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag. If using a bag, remove the excess air before sealing it. Thaw it in the fridge overnight.

How to Reheat

When you’re ready to serve, preheat the oven to 350°F. Place goulash in an oven-safe dish covered with foil. Heat to the desired temperature.

You can also reheat goulash in a pan over medium-low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave on HIGH power in 1-minute increments.