Bobby's Favorite Goulash - American Goulash

A Classic American Goulash with Beef, tomatoes, macaroni and spices simmered together all in one pot! Goulash is one of my favorite old fashioned meals. 
I've been looking for a good goulash recipe for quite awhile now. I've tried many recipes, but still hadn't found the perfect one. A couple weeks back, I was watching "Paula's Home Cooking" which aired her "Happy Birthday Bobby" episode where she was sharing all of her son's favorite dishes.   

Goulash is Bobby's favorite meals,! Here recipe was pretty simple and looked delicious, so I couldn't wait to try it. I followed the recipe and tossed everything in my new Paula Deen cookware of course LOL.

I have to say this was the best Goulash I had ever tasted! It was so good that my family cleaned out the whole pot (always a good sign). The goulash was perfect! Not thick, mushy or bland tasting. I did add one cup of frozen corn, but that's the only change I made. I think mixed veggies would also be a good addition.

If you're looking for a great goulash recipe, look no further. I wasn't too sure about adding the soy sauce, but it's really good and all the spices came together deliciously.
I can't wait to try Bobby’s Caramel Cake next which Paula also baked on that episode. This recipe makes a quite a bit, so if you have a smaller family I suggest cutting this recipe in half. I have a family of 4 and a half recipe is perfect. 
Let's get started.

In a large pot or Dutch oven, saute the ground beef over medium-high heat. Break up the meat as it's cooking; drain off any grease. Add the onions and garlic and saute until they're tender, about 5 -7 minutes. Add the water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoning salt, sugar, bay leaf and soy sauce, corn if using. Mix to combine all the ingredients. 

Place a lid on the pot and allow the mixture to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove lid and add the elbow macaroni. 

Stir well and return the lid to the pot. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Stir again and then turn off the heat, remove the bay leaf and allow the mixture to sit about 15 minutes more with the lid on before serving.

Serve with garlic bread and a garden salad. Enjoy! 


Yield: 4 - 6
Author: Tina Butler | Mommy's Kitchen
Bobby's Favorite Goulash

Bobby's Favorite Goulash - American Goulash

A Classic American Goulash with Beef, tomatoes, macaroni and spices simmered together all in one pot! Goulash is one of my favorite old fashioned meals.
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 35 MinInactive time: 15 MinTotal time: 1 H & 5 M

Ingredients

  • 1  pound ground beef or ground turkey
  • 1  1/2  cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1  small onion, chopped
  • 1  1/2  cups water
  • 1  15 ounce cans basil, garlic & oregano diced tomatoes (I prefer Red Gold)
  • 1  15 ounce cans tomato sauce
  • 1  tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 2  tablespoon sugar
  • onion powder, to taste
  • garlic powder, to taste 
  • 1/4  teaspoon season salt
  • 1  tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1  bay leaf
  • 1  1/4 cups elbow macaroni or whole grain pasta, uncooked
  • 1  cup frozen corn, optional

Instructions

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, saute the ground beef over medium-high heat. Break up the meat as it cooks; drain off any grease. 
  2. Add the onions and garlic and saute until they're tender and the onions are translucent, about 5 -7 minutes.
  3. Add the water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoning salt, sugar, bay leaf and soy sauce, corn if using. Mix to combine all the ingredients.  
  4. Place a lid on the pot and allow the mixture to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. 
  5. Remove lid and add the elbow macaroni. Stir well and return the lid to the pot. Simmer for about 15 minutes. 
  6. Stir again and then turn off the heat, remove the bay leaf and allow the mixture to sit about 15 minutes more with the lid on before serving. 
  7. Mix to combine and serve. 


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adapted from: Pauladeen.com


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52 comments

I've made this before and it is so good. I just might have to add it to our menu in April.
Sheila said…
My mom made goulash all the time growing up. I actually have never made it, but I will now that I know about this recipe! Congrats on your new cookware. I love getting kitchen stuff:)
Stephanie said…
Yum, I grew up eating goulash. This looks really delicious.
That recipe is excellent! Major comfort food there.
Amber said…
This looks really good! Ill have to try it out! Thanks for posting it. We tried the pepperoni lasagna roll ups last night and my daughter, who is the pickiest eater ever, devoured hers!!!
Danielle said…
Oh thank you for reminding me about this recipe. I love Paula and tried this recipe a while back. I remember now that it was good, so I'll have to add it back to my weekly menu sometime soon.
Porters said…
I will have to try this sometime. I have also had a hard time finding a good recipe for it that we all like, so I'll have to give this one a whirl!
This looks yummy! I had seen this recipe before and wanted to make it but hadn't yet. I will have to soon. Looks like yummy comfort food. :)
God bless,
Amanda
Live.Love.Eat said…
I have never had Goulash before but I do love Paula!!!! I will have to try it, it has everything in it that we like.
Tina Butler said…
Hi Mimi, I added your burrito casserole to my april menu.

Shelia, welcome to Mommys Kitchen. I hope you come back again. I visited your blog you are so busy and 7 kiddos. Hats off to you.

Stephanie this is updated goulash, it is so yummy.

Amber I am so glad you dd liked the Pepperoni Lasagna Roll ups. they are my dd's favorite as well. She asks for them every week. I told her we cant eat them that often, but I know she could.

Colins mom, welcome as well. I saw your blog and the ziti looks good and your son is so cute.

Porters, give this a try you search will be over!!!

Welcome Amanda wow I have so many new visitors ~grins~ I hope ya'll keep coming back.

Steph hi to you anything Paula is good to me LOL. This recipe is so kid friendly.
Meg said…
The perfect comfort food!
Softie said…
What is in Paula's home seasoning or wheere can I buy it do you know? I want to try this it looks great!
Tina Butler said…
Oh Jan dont go and buy any. It is so easy to make. Here is the recipe I made some and keep it in a empty seasoning jar. I will add the house seasoning recipe to the Goulash Post.

House Seasoning:

1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Anonymous said…
How funny you just posted this. I just posted our favorite goulash recipe this week!! Gotta love it.
YUM! I think I like anything that Paula Dean makes, especially when it's for one of her boys. Great job.
Noor said…
I have to say I forgot about this meal. My mom always made it growing up and I LOVED it. My mom made it without meat though, but I am sure this is amazing. I am going to make it soon and that Amish bread of yours but I cant find bread flour here, can I just use AP?
Leslie said…
Mm.that looks yummy! I too love the Deen brothers. Arent they just too darling. I actually met them and Paula last year and they are SUPER sweet!
Buffie said…
This sounds delicious. I am going to have ot try making this as its been awhile since I've made goulash. Yum!
Making this today for Sunday Cafe, thanks.

http://momssundaycafe.blogspot.com/2009/10/sunday-cafe-menu.html
AikoArt said…
Fantastic recipe! It is by far the best goulash I have EVER had. My whole family loved it & we had generous leftovers.
Kristen said…
just made the goulash. It was REALLY salty, my family couldn't eat it. I followed the recipe exactly, but think next time I will cut down the salt portions by 1/2.
Tina Butler said…
You can probably cut back on the seasoning sxlt measurement. Paulas house seasoning recipe has salt in it as well. Or just cut both the house seasoning and the seasoning salt in half.
Very good goulash! I used 1 can Rotel instead of 2 cans tomatoes and didn't measure anything exactly but thats how I make everything. I served ours with a palmful of cheddar cheese. My husband and 14mo old loved it too!
Jess said…
I made this for dinner last night; everyone loved it! Since I have a family of 6, it makes a good amount for us. I love your blog! I have been making a lot of recipes from your site and all have been well received. You have inspired me to finally get my act together and make menus to follow. Makes life so much easier.
Anonymous said…
I made the Bobby's Goulash recipe as written in the Deen Brothers cookbook. I halved the recipe and still had lots of leftovers. I did not have any tomato sauce on hand, so I used water instead. Still came out great. I served it with corn as a side dish and a little shredded colby jack cheese for garnish. Yum...
Hog Farmer Wife said…
Hey, I made your goulash tonight and my husband informed me that I could make this dish anytime I wanted to! We all LOVED it! Thanks for sharing!
brlracincwgrl said…
I've been looking for a Goulash recipe, so thank you!
Cindy said…
Thanks for the recipe. I made the Taco Soup and everyone loved it. Making goulash tonight.
Sheila said…
This recipe is a "keeper". We loved it, I did cut it in half since it's just the two of us.
Anonymous said…
My MIL used to make what she called "Working Girl Goulash" which is similar to this. Her recipe started off by putting a layer of canned tamales in the bottom of the dish.

After the cassarole is all put together it's popped in the oven and then stirred all together and topped with parmasean cheese. Similar to this recipe and also Yummy!

Nadine In Nevada
Anonymous said…
Hi,

Just wanna tell you I made this for dinner today...and it was so tasty. I just changed the corn into red and green pepper insted.
For sure I going to make this really soon again.
Thanks for charing this recipe with us.
Pia
TRISH said…
I remember having this as a kid. The only thing different was rinsed & drained dark red kidney beans were added. I make it, too, but leave out the beans. For a Mexican twist use Rotel for the tomatoes, add a little chili powder and a small can of mild diced green chiles. Serve with cornbread and a salad. It's also delicious made with rotini instead of macaroni.
Anonymous said…
If too salty put a half a potato in it while cooking it helps get rid of the salt
Anonymous said…
My Mom made this when I was growing up ... I made a family recipe book many years ago and put her Soup recipe in it and called it our last name it stuck! Now we all call it Boen soup! Sorry had to share :)


LEENA7 said…
Make a lot it seems to be even better as leftovers..my kids devour it, We use a whole bag of mized veggies and sometimes we throw on some black beans for a new favor. yummy
Unknown said…
I've made this often (without the corn) and it's one of my husband's favorite dishes. Comfort food at it's best!!
shirko said…
I made it just as it is written......AMAZING....
Anonymous said…
We call This North Dakota Hot dish , I use my own seasonings n put a squirt or 2 of Ketchup n a couple tablespoons butter! So good .!! My Grandkids are always asking me or their Dad to make it !!!
Anonymous said…
This looks really good, but to me it's not Goulash. That's because I'm Hungarian so I grew up on Hungarian Goulash which is made totally different>
Tina Butler said…
This isn't Hungarian Goulash it is American Goulash. Hungarian is totally different.
Anonymous said…
Wow! Just mad this last night and it was great. Make sure to let it sit for that last 15 min. I couldn't wait and just used bread to soak up the water, but when I went for more, it was perfect. Thanks for posting!
Does this freeze well?
lynne said…
Can i make this in a crock pot? How many will this feed? I cook for 20 volunteers at a local food pantry warehouse.
Tina Butler said…
I have never made this recipe in the crock pot, so I am not help on that. If it were me I would prepare this dish on the stove and then add it to a crock pot to take with you. This recipe feeds 6-8 people. It really isn't a slow cooker recipe, so I think the noodles would end up being mushy in the end.
Patty said…
Yes, it freezes great. I always make up a mess of this & freeze it. Follow the directions except don't add the noodles. Once it's cooled pour/scoop desired amount into freezer bags and lay flat on cookie sheet until frozen. Makes it easier to stack if flat. The cookie sheet is "just incase" one of the bags isn't closed all the way. When you're ready to eat it after it's thawed that's when I add my noodles. Depending on how much liquid you froze you may have to add some broth or whatever you want to add. Reheat until noodles are done. I do this with my homemade chicken noodle soup and any other noodle soup I make. I hope that helps!!
Gerri Habitz habitzg@hotmail.com said…
This has always been one my family's favorites, and we never seem to tire of it. It was handed down to me by old country relatives as a "starvation dish" along with the boiled chicken, sour cream, onion with dumplings dish called Popperkosh" and I have no idea how to spell that. I've saved your recipe to try soon. My daughter likes to put garlic in the goulash, but i have to make a separate portion without for myself. I never thought of Soy Sauce. Love your recipes. I'm a fiend for desserts....probably will never be able to make all that I've saved from you.
Tina Butler said…
When the print preview comes you need to look and un check all pages and just print the pages with the recipe which is only 1 or 2 pages.
Anonymous said…
At what point in the recipe do you add the frozen veggies or corn ? This looks great, I'm making it this weekend.
Unknown said…
This is similar to the goulash my mom made only it tastes better when you add a can of Campbell's Vegetable Soup to it. It makes it Yummy!
judi said…
i agree its very good golash but a little salty .i would use very litle seasons and you can always adjust later.i did this the second tiem i amde it and it was fine
Home cook Steph said…
Your website is one of my favorites.Everything that o have made do far has been good.Thank you so much for sharing recipes that my family would love.
Unknown said…
cook this often. try using taco seasoning 1 pkg per lb of ground beef..