Comfort food at its finest, this One-Pot Classic American Goulash brings together tender ground beef, hearty pasta, and a rich, savory tomato sauce in a single, satisfying dish. Perfect for busy weeknights, this easy recipe delivers all the flavors of a traditional goulash without the hassle of multiple pots and pans. With its delicious blend of spices and simple ingredients, this goulash is sure to become a staple in your meal rotation.

One-Pot Classic American Goulash in a pan with a wooden spoon scooping a portion

I love a good one-pot meal! Being the dish-queen is hard work sometimes, so getting away with using one pot or one pan is always a nice treat!

An even better treat (especially mid-week)? A big warm pot of Classic American Goulash. Goulash is just such a hearty, wholesome meal that everyone loves. No seriously, I don’t think I’ve met anyone who doesn’t like it.

Here’s my simple recipe for One-Pot Classic American Goulash. Throw it into your rotation this week!

What is American Goulash?

American Goulash is often ground beef based with elbow macaroni. It’s sometimes referred to as American Chop Suey as well. It’s a more casserole type consistency, compared to the stew like texture that traditional Hungarian goulash has.

Classic Hungarian goulash usually consists of chunks of stew beef, vegetables like carrots and potatoes; and is often cooked over a long period of time. It also contains Hungarian paprika, which gives it a smoky taste.

Both are great! American Goulash is just a bit simpler to pull off on a weeknight! I’ll have to try my hand at a Hungarian Goulash for the blog sometime this winter!

What ingredients do I need to make One-Pot Classic American Goulash?

ground beef
bell pepper and onion
macaroni noodles
diced tomatoes and tomato sauce (canned is fine!)
cheddar cheese
Worcestershire sauce
beef broth
spices: all purpose seasoning, paprika, italian seasoning, garlic paste, bay leaves, salt and pepper

The ingredient spread for making One-Pot Classic American Goulash.

Just one pot, right?

Yes! Just one pot! I love a heavy bottomed pan or a dutch oven for goulash!

How to make One-Pot Classic American Goulash?

Start with browning the beef, onions, and bell peppers. Don’t touch it much while cooks, caramelize it a little for those nice crispy edges!
While the beef is cooking, season it with salt, pepper, and all purpose seasoning. (The all purpose is optional, but I like to add it for a nice earthy flavor to the beef.)
Once the beef has browned, add in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, beef broth, and macaroni noodles. Season with Italian seasoning and paprika and bring toa boil.
Reduce the heat, add in the 2 bay leaves, cover and let simmer for 15 – 20 minutes while the noodles soften.
Once the noodles are al dente, season to your preference with salt and pepper and stir in the cheese.
Let the cheese melt and serve hot!

Ground beef, green bell peppers, and onions frying in a pan.

Beef, macaroni noodles, and tomato sauce cooking on the stove.

What to serve with One-Pot Classic American Goulash?

This meal is great on it’s own because it’s quite hearty, but feel free to serve it alongside some Pillsbury crescents or a light salad for some greenery.

A serving of One-Pot Classic American Goulash in a bowl with the pan in the background.

Storage:

We love to make this at the beginning of the week so we have leftovers for meal prep!

If you aren’t reheating in individual portions, you can always reheat larger portions on the stove. Just add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup more beef broth when reheating. (This is not necessary if reheating individual portions.)

I hope you enjoy this One-Pot Classic American Goulash recipe! If you try it, comment or tag @atoastedcrumb on all socials! Enjoy!