🍝 American Goulash
American Goulash is a classic one-pot American comfort dish made with ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, and simple seasonings. Despite the name, it’s quite different from Hungarian Goulash, which is a paprika-rich beef stew from Hungary.
🥘 Key Ingredients
Typical ingredients include:
- Ground beef
- Elbow macaroni
- Onion and garlic
- Tomato sauce or diced tomatoes
- Beef broth or water
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper
- Optional: cheddar cheese
👨🍳 Simple Recipe (30 minutes)
1. Cook the beef
- In a large pot, cook 1 lb ground beef with 1 chopped onion until browned.
- Drain excess fat.
2. Add flavor
- Stir in 2 cloves garlic, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
3. Add liquids
- Mix in:
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 2 cups beef broth
4. Add pasta
- Stir in 1½ cups elbow macaroni.
5. Simmer
- Cover and cook 12–15 minutes until pasta is tender.
6. Finish (optional)
- Stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and let melt.
🍽️ What It Tastes Like
- Savory and tomato-rich
- Mildly spiced (not very spicy)
- Similar to a beefy pasta stew
🇺🇸 Why It’s Popular
American goulash became popular in the Midwestern United States as a cheap, filling, one-pot meal during the 20th century, especially for families and school cafeterias.
✅ Fun fact: In some parts of the U.S., this dish is also called “Johnny Marzetti.”
If you want, I can also show you:
- 🔥 The best chef-style American goulash recipe
- 🍝 Difference between American, Hungarian, and German goulash
- 🧑🍳 A restaurant-quality version of American goulash.
