A Proper Comfort Ultimate Onepot Classic Oldfashioned Goulash

Ready for Real Comfort?

Have you ever just needed a huge hug in a bowl? That’s exactly how I feel about this recipe. Tonight, forget the complicated stuff.

We are diving headfirst into the Classic Old-Fashioned Goulash . It truly is the definition of the Ultimate Comfort Food .

The Ultimate Weeknight Throwback

Now, let's clear the air straight away. This isn't that fancy, delicate Hungarian gulyás . That is a whole different kettle of fish entirely.

This is the hearty, robust meal most of us grew up eating. Some folks down South even call it American Chop Suey .

It’s essentially a glorious ground beef macaroni recipe . It's the perfect Easy weeknight dinner when life gets busy.

Honestly, if you can stir, you can make this.

Why This Grandma’s Goulash Recipe Works

This dish is the king of One Pot Meals . Seriously, minimal washing up is involved. That alone is a massive win in my book.

If you have a good, sturdy Dutch oven beef and pasta pot, you are basically set. Prep only takes about 15 minutes.

I remember trying to cook this while holding a toddler. It was pure chaos, but this recipe saved me.

This Grandma's goulash recipe is pure nostalgia. My Nan made this weekly when I was small. She would always top it with heaps of melted sharp Cheddar.

That satisfying mess of rich sauce and melty Cheese Pasta is unforgettable. In fact, roughly 75% of Americans born before 1980 likely had a version of this dish served regularly! That is a legacy worth keeping, right?

The Benefits of This Classic Goulash Recipe

Beyond the obvious joy factor, this recipe is seriously practical. It stretches a small amount of meat quite far. It's packed with protein and fibre, too.

It’s hearty fuel for busy families who need to eat well. That rich, savory tomato flavour is just so addictive.

This Classic Goulash Recipe delivers big time on taste. It is the real deal, the perfect, simple Old Fashioned Goulash .

We are using simple pantry staples here. Let’s grab our ingredients and get cooking!

The Shopping List for Ultimate Comfort

Right then, let’s talk ingredients for this proper hug-in-a-bowl. This Classic Old-Fashioned Goulash is simple. Honestly, you probably have half this stuff already lurking in the back of your cupboard.

We are making proper, deeply satisfying Ultimate Comfort Food here.

Ingredients: Keeping the Classic Goulash Recipe Honest

The beauty of this dish is its simplicity. We are making an Easy weeknight dinner .

The Meat and Base: Grab 1.5 lbs (680 g) of lean ground beef. I always go for 85/15. Less fat means less draining later, which is my least favorite kitchen chore! For the aromatics, you need 1 large yellow onion and about 3 cloves of garlic .

Fresh garlic is a must. If it’s green in the middle, pull that bit out; it gets bitter.

The Sauce Essentials : The flavour backbone comes from two cans of tomatoes one 400 g crushed and one 400 g diced .

Don't forget 4 cups (950 ml) of good beef broth. I always grab low-sodium so I can control the salt myself.

Flavour Secrets : Forget complicated spice racks. The star here is 2 tsp (10 g) of smoked paprika. This is what elevates this from boring Ground beef macaroni recipe to something special.

It gives that lovely depth, almost like a campfire smell. And the secret weapon? 1 Tbsp of Worcestershire sauce. That savoury hit is incredible.

Spice Notes and Avoiding Mistakes

This is essentially the American Chop Suey of the North, so seasoning is key.

The Balancing Act: If your sauce tastes too sharp, it's the acidity in the tomatoes. I learnt this when I ruined my first Grandma's goulash recipe .

Add 1 tsp (5 g) of granulated sugar. Seriously. It just mellows the sauce without making it taste sweet. It’s chemistry, not witchcraft!

Quick Swaps: No elbow macaroni? No dramas. Small shells work perfectly. If you are out of beef broth, stock cubes mixed with hot water are fine for this One Pot Meal .

Don’t stress about perfection; this Old Fashioned Goulash is forgiving.

Gear: The Essential Dutch Oven Beef and Pasta Setup

You really only need one piece of crucial equipment. That is why this is such a fantastic One Pot Meal .

The MVP is a sturdy 6-quart (approx. 5.7 L) Dutch Oven . Or just a seriously heavy stockpot. Why heavy? Because once you add the 2 cups (360 g) of dry elbow macaroni, that starch starts to sink.

A heavy bottom stops the pasta from sticking and burning. I once used a flimsy pan and ended up with a crusty layer of burnt Cheese Pasta at the bottom.

Total nightmare. Stick to the heavy gear, stir often, and this will be the easiest weeknight meal you’ve ever made.

Minimal washing up is the main benefit, right?

Let's Get Cooking: Building That Ultimate Comfort Food Magic

Right then, time to roll up the sleeves. This whole process is so easy it feels like cheating. This is the definition of an Easy weeknight dinner .

Honestly, the biggest challenge you’ll face is resisting the urge to snack while it simmers.

Prep Like a Pro (Or Just a Normal Human)

We’re making One Pot Meals here, which means we cut down on washing up. Score! But even with minimal fuss, a little organisation goes a long way.

Before you touch that stove, have your onion diced and your garlic minced. This is called mise en place . I used to think it was just a fancy chef term, but trust me, trying to dice an onion while the ground beef is screaming for attention is chaos.

Take the 15 minutes to get those veggies and liquids lined up. You’ll thank me later.

Searing the Foundation of Grandma's Goulash Recipe

Grab your trusty Dutch oven beef and pasta pot. We need to build the deepest flavour base possible for this Classic Old-Fashioned Goulash .

1. Sauté and Sweat: Heat your oil. Throw in those diced onions. Cook them gently until they're soft and see-through. This should take about 4 5 minutes .

   Then, add the minced garlic. Don’t let that garlic burn! Bitter garlic will ruin everything. Cook it for just 1 minute until you can really smell it.

2. Brown the Beef: Now, crank the heat just a touch. Add your 1.5 lbs of ground beef. Break it up aggressively.

   Season it well with salt and pepper. We want the meat browned, not steamed, which usually takes 6 8 minutes .

3. The Essential Drain: Listen closely: I learned this the hard way. Once the beef is totally brown, you must drain the fat.

   If you skip this, your final sauce will be greasy. Trust me; I once made a version so slick it looked like an oil spill.

   Not the ideal Ultimate Comfort Food .

Toasting for Depth

This next bit is the secret ingredient in any great Classic Goulash Recipe .

4. Toast the Paste: Push the meat aside. Put the tomato paste and paprika directly onto the hot metal. Cook it, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes .

   This caramelizes the paste, taking away that raw, metallic flavour. It’s what gives this Ground beef macaroni recipe its rich, complex taste.

5. Simmer Time: Pour in the beef broth and tomatoes. Toss in the bay leaf and a tiny spoonful of sugar that sugar is just there to balance the tomato acidity.

   Bring it to a robust boil, then drop the heat way down. Cover it loosely and let the sauce simmer for 15 minutes .

   This is how the flavours get properly acquainted.

Macaroni Magic

6. Add the Macaroni: Stir in those 2 cups of dry elbow macaroni. Make sure it's all tucked under the liquid.

7. The Stirring Rule: Now, here is the most crucial part of this American Chop Suey . You have to stir every 5 minutes while it cooks ( 15 20 minutes total).

   Starch loves to stick to the bottom of the pot. If you don't stir, you’ll burn it.

8. Rest and Serve: Once the pasta is tender, switch off the heat. Remove the bay leaf. Clap your hands because you’ve made a masterpiece! Let the pot rest, covered, for 5 minutes .

   This rest period is non-negotiable; it lets the sauce thicken up beautifully. Serve it piping hot with a ridiculous amount of grated Cheese Pasta on top.

   Bob’s your uncle!

Finishing Touches: Serving Up This Ultimate Comfort Food

Right, you’ve mastered the technique and your house smells absolutely incredible. Making this Classic Old-Fashioned Goulash is one thing; serving it up like a proper feast is another!

I’ve been making my own version of Grandma's goulash recipe since I was a kid, and I’ve learned a few tricks to elevate this Ultimate Comfort Food from just a dinner to a moment of pure bliss.

The Perfect Plate and Pairing

Even the simplest dishes deserve a little flair, you know? Skip the tiny cereal bowl. I use a wide, shallow soup bowl.

Scoop the Classic Goulash Recipe high. Don't be shy with the toppings! That little mountain of sharp Cheddar cheese the Cheese Pasta needs it and a vibrant sprinkle of fresh parsley is essential.

It adds necessary colour and freshness. Honestly, the parsley makes the whole thing look less like a stew and more like a gourmet meal.

For sides, you absolutely must have something crunchy to cut through the richness. A simple, crisp side salad with a very sharp, vinegar based dressing is the perfect partner.

We call it "tangy relief." And I mean, if you’re cooking American Chop Suey , you have to have garlic bread.

It’s the law!

Keeping This Easy Weeknight Dinner Fresh

Leftovers are arguably the best part of this Easy weeknight dinner ! It somehow tastes deeper and more complex the next day.

Just make sure you get it into an airtight container and into the fridge within two hours. It will keep beautifully for up to 4 days .

Now, about freezing. The goulash sauce freezes like a dream, but the Ground beef macaroni recipe component is tricky. Pasta can get mushy when thawed.

My insider tip? If you know you're making a batch to freeze, cook the sauce completely, but only cook half the pasta you need.

Freeze the saucy half, and when you reheat it later, cook fresh pasta and stir it in. Genius, right? For reheating, simmer it gently on the hob, adding a splash of beef broth.

Remember, the pasta soaks up all the liquid overnight!

Simple Swaps and Dietary Wins

This is a totally versatile One Pot Meals wonder. Fancy switching it up? Of course you can!

If you're avoiding beef, ground chicken or turkey works fine for this Old Fashioned Goulash , but you might need to add a teaspoon of extra oil or butter to the Dutch oven beef and pasta steps because they are leaner.

For a lovely vegetarian twist, substitute the beef entirely with two cans of drained kidney beans and use veggie broth.

Add the beans right at the end to warm through don't boil them to death!

Seasonal swaps are fun too. In late summer, I throw in some diced courgette or bell peppers with the onions. It adds texture and doesn't change the cook time much.

Why It’s Good For You

Okay, it’s not kale, but this dish is seriously satisfying fuel. Because we used lean ground beef, you're getting a huge hit of protein, which keeps you full for ages.

The tomatoes, cooked down like this, are bursting with lycopene, a fantastic antioxidant. Basically, it’s proper, hearty sustenance that makes you feel instantly better.

It’s what comfort food is all about!

Honestly, this recipe is a lifesaver. Go on, enjoy that massive, incredible bowl of homemade goodness!