American Goulash (Beefaroni) (2024)

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.

Looking for more one pot meals? Try my Lemon Chicken Pasta or Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas!

American Goulash (Beefaroni) (1)

If American Goulash is unfamiliar, you might have called this “beefaroni” as a kid. Either way, if you’ve never made this dish from scratch, get ready to lick the bowl clean! It’s flavorful and hearty, and best of all, you can have it on the table in less than 30 minutes with only one pot to wash afterwards!

How to make American Goulash (Beefaroni):

Saute onion in a pan with oil for several minutes. Add garlic. Add ground beef and season well with salt and pepper. Cook, crumbling it into small pieces as it cooks. Add all dry spices and cook for 1-2 minutes.

American Goulash (Beefaroni) (2)

Stir in tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, Worcestershire and 1 ½ cups beef broth. Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes.

American Goulash (Beefaroni) (3)

Pour in an additional ¾ cup broth and uncooked pasta. Cook until pasta is tender.

American Goulash (Beefaroni) (4)

Stir in cheese that’s been freshly grated, and allow to melt.

American Goulash (Beefaroni) (5)

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead: This meal is best served immediately, but leftovers may be stored in a container in the fridge for a few days and reheated in the microwave.

To Freeze: Allow to cool completely then place in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating. Add a splash of additional broth when reheating, if needed.

American Goulash (Beefaroni) (6)

Recipe Variations:

  • Instant Pot Beefaroni: Cook onion and ground beef on sauté setting in Instant Pot. Drain grease and add dry spices and cook for 1 minute. Turn off Instant Pot and stir in tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, Worcestershire and 1 ½ cups beef broth (don’t add any additional beef broth). Pour in macaroni noodles, stir, and place lid on seal and set to high pressure for 5 minutes. Do a quick release when finished, stir, and add grated cheese.
  • Crock Pot Beefaroni: Cook onion and ground beef on stove. Add dry spices and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, Worcestershire and 1 cup beef broth and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours. Cook pasta separately. Add cooked noodles and grated cheese, and stir until cheese has melted.

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Recipe

American Goulash (Beefaroni) (7)

4.86 from 76 votes

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.

Author Lauren Allen

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 400

Cost 5

Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook 30 minutes mins

Total 40 minutes mins

Save Recipe

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 tsp 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

  • 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.

  • 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 additional ¾ cup broth and uncooked pasta. Cook until pasta is tender. Stir in freshly grated cheese and allow to melt. Serve immediately.

Notes

To Make Ahead: This meal is best served immediately, but leftovers may be stored in a container in the fridge for a few days and reheated in the microwave.

To Freeze: Allow to cool completely then place in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating. Add a splash of additional broth when reheating, if needed.

Instant Pot Beefaroni: Cook onion and ground beef on sauté setting in Instant Pot. Drain grease and add dry spices and cook for 1 minute. Turn off Instant Pot and stir in tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, Worcestershire and 1 ½ cups beef broth (don’t add any additional beef broth). Pour in macaroni noodles, stir, and place lid on seal and set to high pressure for 5 minutes. Do a quick release when finished, stir, and add grated cheese.

Crock Pot Beefaroni: Cook onion and ground beef on stove. Add dry spices and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, Worcestershire and 1 cup beef broth and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours. Cook pasta separately. Add cooked noodles and grated cheese, and stir until cheese has melted.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 29gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 1130mgPotassium: 1010mgFiber: 4gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 942IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 199mgIron: 5mg

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Categories

  • Beef Recipes
  • Budget Friendly Meals
  • Freezer Friendly
  • High Protein Recipes
  • Kid Friendly Recipes
  • Main Dish
  • One Pot Meals
  • Pasta

About The Author

American Goulash (Beefaroni) (12)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Learn More

American Goulash (Beefaroni) (2024)

FAQs

Is beefaroni the same as goulash? ›

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. Looking for more one pot meals?

What is American Goulash made of? ›

It features ground beef, pasta (usually macaroni) and tomatoes. Unlike Hungarian goulash, American goulash cooks quickly, making it a great family-friendly option for weeknights.

Why is American Goulash so different? ›

American goulash is more of a pasta and ground beef dish

A comfort classic in the U.S., American goulash bears little relation to its Hungarian predecessor. Chunks of beef or pork are replaced by ground meat, drowned in a tomato sauce over macaroni.

How to make beefaroni taste better? ›

Grate the cheese from a block as it will melt much better than packaged grated cheese. Make sure the base isn't too hot when you add the cheese, otherwise the dairy can separate and create a grainy consistency. Bouillon: A little beef bouillon adds depth of flavor, I use 1/2 tsp Better than Bouillon.

What's another name for Beefaroni? ›

American Chop Suey (Macaroni, Beef, and Cheese Skillet Casserole) Recipe. Beefaroni, chili mac, Johnny Marzetti: whatever you call it, this stuff is delicious. Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site.

What is Beefaroni made of? ›

This was one of my favorite dishes growing up and now it is my children's. Ground beef, cheese and tomato sauce are baked into a simply delicious casserole.

What is original goulash made of? ›

The classic “kettle goulash” is prepared by frying cubes of beef or mutton with onions in lard. Garlic, caraway seeds, tomatoes, green peppers, and potatoes complete the stew. Székely gulyás, another Hungarian specialty, is a stew of pork and sauerkraut flavoured with tomatoes, onions, caraway seeds, and sour cream.

What do you serve 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 the difference between goulash and 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.

What does "goulash" mean in slang? ›

goulash in American English

2. a heterogeneous mixture; hodgepodge; jumble.

Is goulash the same as stroganoff? ›

Traditional goulash is a stew/soup, usually using a cheaper cut of meat suited to slow cooking. It usually contains potatoes and other vegetables, as well as noodles. A true stroganoff consists of paprika-dusted fillet steak quickly pan fried with mushrooms and onions in a sour cream and brandy sauce.

Can you use tomato paste instead of tomato sauce? ›

Substitute Tomato Paste For Tomato Sauce

If you have a can of tomato paste in your pantry, you are in luck—this is the best substitution for tomato sauce. All you need is the tomato paste and water. Mix together 1 part tomato paste and 1 part water until well blended. Then, season your "sauce" to taste.

Is beefaroni healthy? ›

Each serving has over 30 grams of protein as well as 50% vitamin C, 30% vitamin A, 25% iron, and 20% calcium.

Why is Chef Boyardee sauce so good? ›

Chef Boyardee continues to make pastas with no artificial flavors, no artificial colors and no preservatives, with great tomatoes still at the heart of the Chef Boyardee sauce that so many have enjoyed over the years.

Does beefaroni have milk in it? ›

Contains: milk, soy, wheat.

What's another name for goulash? ›

What is another word for goulash?
stewbourguignon
gallimaufrypot-au-feu
pottagehash
hotpothotdish
casserole dishcovered dish
4 more rows

What is goulash similar to? ›

American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, is an American comfort food dish, similar to American chop suey.

What is considered goulash? ›

Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás) is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.

Are goulash and hamburger helper the same thing? ›

Hungarian goulash is a thick soup with meat and vegetables, usually seasoned with paprika. American goulash is very different. It generally has tomato sauce, macaroni and beef. It's almost like a homemade hamburger helper.

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