Old-Fashioned American Goulash

Old-fashioned American goulash is also known as Beef-a-Roni.

American goulash, often called “slumgullion” or “Johnny Marzetti” in some regions, is a hearty and comforting one-pot meal that’s very different from its Hungarian namesake. While Hungarian goulash is a soup or stew featuring paprika and often sour cream, American goulash is typically a pasta dish with ground beef, tomato sauce, and often other vegetables.

Here’s a breakdown of what American goulash usually entails and a basic recipe:

Key Characteristics of American Goulash:

• Ground beef: The primary protein.
• Pasta: Elbow macaroni is the most common, but other small pasta shapes work too.
• Tomato base: Canned crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, or diced tomatoes are used to create a rich, savory sauce.
• Onions and garlic: Essential for flavor.
• Seasoning: Typically includes salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, sometimes a bay leaf, and a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
• Often includes: Bell peppers, celery or corn.
• One-Pot: It’s usually cooked in a single pot, making for easy cleanup.

Old-Fashioned American Goulash

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

This American goulash is also known as Beef-a-Roni.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

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• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 1/2 cups minced onions
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
• Freshly shredded shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)

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Instructions

1. Heat a stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef, onions and garlic; cook for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into small crumbles, stirring occasionally, or until onions are translucent.
2. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, water, soy sauce, paprika, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover tightly and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in macaroni, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
4. Remove from heat. Discard bay leaf. Garnish with Cheddar cheese, if desired.

Notes

Photo credit: (c) Can Stock Photo / Fanfo