I am fortunate enough to have grown up with an incredible mother who was also an amazing cook. So, when I think back to the comfort foods of my childhood, there are many.
This goulash is one of those comfort foods I remember so fondly. I haven’t had it in years, but was reminded of it while glancing over Pinterest the other day. The minute I saw it, I called Mom up to get the recipe. As it simmered on the stove, it was torture because the smell was so familiar to me.
One taste and I was instantly taken back to my childhood and could feel my short little legs swinging under the kitchen chair as a stuffed my mouth with this delicious goodness. It’s hearty and filling and the best part is you can feed a crowd inexpensively – which is probably why we had it often growing up. It’s a versatile dish too in that you can replace the corn with other vegetables, if you like.
I love how food can connect us to our past like that. Don’t you? Y’all enjoy…
Recipe Card
Goulash
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 3 cups water
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (15.25-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven brown the ground beef over medium high heat until it is no longer pink. Drain the grease. Add the onions and garlic to the meat and reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the onions are translucent. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with juice, water, paprika, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in uncooked macaroni and corn and simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes or until the macaroni is done. Serve topped with shredded cheddar cheese.
Please note:
If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Cut the recipe in half and added some thawed OLATHE corn from Colorado it was the best! I also added some diced celery and used petite diced tomatoes and mild shredded cheddar cheese. See my comment on my Mom’s Polish Goulash as well
So glad you enjoyed it!!
I can’t wait to try this but I have one question. I do not have any paprika, but I do have chili powder. Would that be an ok substitute? I don’t want to change the flavor of your recipe too much.
It will change the flavor some. I think I’d just skip it altogether if you don’t have paprika on-hand.
Hi. I haven’t made this yet because I don’t have the ingredients for it. But it sounds like what my precious momma used to cook. I do have a question… if I wanted to use zucchini instead of corn, when do you recommend it be put in? I wouldn’t want it to turn to mush. Thank you.
If you diced it up pretty small, it shouldn’t take any time at all – maybe just 3 or 4 minutes right at the end. Hope you enjoy it!
Made this for dinner last night, left out the corn added 2 handfuls of green bell peppers, this was the best! My mom’s recipe for Polish Goulash was using large elbow pasta, tomato soup and sautéed onions, celery and green bell peppers. Also added salt, pepper and paprika. Thanks for a great recipe.
Katherine
Sounds great!! So glad y’all enjoyed it, Katherine!
This looks awesome! Do you have an idea of how to do it in a slow cooker? Can’t wait to try!!
I’m always hesitant to do any soup with pasta in the slow cooker as you’ll probably end up with soggy, overcooked noodles.
Hello Stacey
I have made recipe for my wife several times just as your recipe appears. We both enjoy it very much.
I will be doing other things with now that I have heard so many good things about it. This recipe also brings back some wonder childhood memories as well for me. Thank you Stacey for all that you do. Tim
Thanks, Tim! So glad y’all enjoyed it!!
Goulash is simply ground meat, pasta, and tomato. Everything else is bonus. To the individual who said it is bland, I must admit he is right. But who is not able to spice things up a bit?! Your recipe is mine (sans corn and cheese but it sounds wonderful!) and I add a bit of red pepper and bell peppers. Tomato juice is a great add when things get too thick! Add some chili powder and you have Chili Mac. Want it creamy? How about a dollop of sour cream? I never had Goulash growing up. LOL I thought I invented it in my 20’s, during the lean years. It is THE ultimate comfort food. Thank you for this great recipe!
Thanks, Karen!
My mom used canned “mexicorn” instead of regular corn, and Monterey Jack cheese melted in it to make it “gooey”. Delicious and easy favorite, served with corn bread.
Yum!!
I never knew there was a “recipe” LOL. It always was at my parents house and at mine also just ground meat, flavored with a little bacon grease from the ever present can on the stove. Add chopped onion (a lot), chopped bell pepper of whatever color was ready to come in out of the garden, fresh tomato juice and maybe some chopped tomatoes or part of a jar of home canned until it covered the meat and add in the macaroni as much as you need for number to feed. I made it often when my son would bring home half the band because “their moms never cook”. Amazing how far you can stretch this dish. Leftover veggies also found their way into the pot. You and Christy are my favorites!
Thanks so much, Cheryl!!
I enjoyed visiting your webiste. I leave comments rarely, but
you definately deserve a thumbs up!
I read that goulash is the Hungarian word for Beef Stew. That explains why it is beef and noodles. We have branched it away from the traditional beef stew we make here. I love the goulash we make here. My wife who is a great cook makes it as a casserole not a soup.
Stacy, I am so glad I found your sight .I have been looking for this recipe for years and no body knew what I was talking about.I grew up in louisville ky and still live there and I am as southern as they come. My mama died at 47 and I did not get a lot of the recipes she made when I was growing up. Now I have so thank you ! Keep them coming !
Welcome, Linda! This is one of my most favorite recipes! I hope it’ll taste just as good as you remember!
Stacey…..You are a true gentleman and a true breath of fresh air from some people who have no manners. I just found your site and I will return. You have great simple recipes too. I have a collection of cook books from 60 years of cooking…..no I have not cooked dishes from all of them but I have great pleasure in knowing I can try any I want to. No, I have not liked all the dishes but “hey, you don’t know till you try it”. I look forward to trying yours very soon..tomorrow for sure …your version of “Goulash”. So thanks young man for being a new found friend in my kitchen. May the good Lord bless you and yours…… and keep up the great work.
“Just an ole cowgirl at heart”
Mary, you’ve absolutely made my day. Thanks so much for your kind words.
I found my way back here to say that this was one of the worst recipes I have ever made. Even with extra spices, it was as bland as bland could be. If my Mother had made this recipe for me as a child, she never would have lived to be 90.
As a Southern gentleman who respects all women, especially my mother, you’ll forgive me if I pay no regard to a person who would threaten his mother’s life if a dish was not to his liking. Clearly, a lack of tact, taste, and intelligence permeates all of your senses.
I am not one who gets into matches on the internet.
My rating of the recipe stands.
My comment about my Mother would surely be a feeble attempt
at humor to anyone with any intelligence. (Which you appear not to possess)
I can hardly believe that you’re “not one who gets into matches on the internet” having left a comment like that. And I certainly never asked that you changed your review. Many people adore some things while others don’t. My suggestion is simply to go at things like this with a little kindness and respect. I think that will serve you much better than being so gruff.
I love goulash! I have made it for years. I started using V8 juice instead of tomato sauce for a different consistency and taste. I don’t add the corn though. It is great!
I substitute V8 in lots of recipes, but never thought about it in this one. Great idea! Thanks for sharing, Amy!!
I was happy to see a goulash recipe! My great uncle taught me how to make goulash when I was five years old (a VERY long time ago) and his recipe is the one I still use. His starts with bacon and also includes beef broth. Goulash is just good comfort food!
Yes it is! Your version sounds delicious!
Stacey – you are wise beyond your years in the kitchen! My dear mother could not cook, so when I was eleven I started cooking because I was hungry! My son is 32 and was thrilled when I gave him a Kitchenaid mixer and good knives for Christmas. I have compiled two family cookbooks and am working on two more. My motto has always been “if you leave my kitchen hungry, it’s your own fault” because there is always more! Keep doing what you do, you are really good at it!!
Thanks so much, Dorothy! You are quite prolific with those cookbooks! Your family with treasure those for generations to come!
This is the first dish I ever made for my family at age 11 (with my mom watching over my shoulder, of course)! Been a favorite since then. The only substitution is see is we didn’t use corn, but a can of chili beans instead. I made this dish for dinner just last week!
Sounds delish! Thanks for sharing your memories of this time-honored recipe!
Wow, this is an amazingly easy recipe. I have made this recipe on several occasions, everyone raves about how delicious this recipe is, Thank you for sharing. I am excited to try more of your recipes. This is the first time, I have left overs for lunch.
So glad you’ve had good luck with the recipe! It’s even better left over!
Made this for supper again the other night. This time I added chopped red, yellow and green bell peppers to the onion. Also added 1 can of diced tomatoes with chilies. The tomato sauce was the Mexican tomato sauce which has added spices. Omitted the corn. Had a friend of my husbands for supper and he asked if he could have a second helping. Must have been tasty to him as well as the family. In fact taking left overs to work with me for lunch.
Sounds like a GREAT way to make it your own!
Hi Stacey: What a delicious (sounding) & very easy ‘one-pot meal’ this is! I would have prepared this for our supper this evening, but I must re-stock my tomato products…. so I’ll make this dish after I (next) go grocery shopping. I love one-pot meals when I’m in a hurry, and I’m sure that this one will absolutely ‘hit the spot’ with my family & myself. I’ll serve it with a large salad and biscuits. I signed-up to receive your blog, so please keep your yummy recipes coming.
Sounds great! Enjoy!
One of our favorite meals is goulash and cornbread. I found the recipe about 40 years ago and it is always well liked by everyone who gets to eat it. My recipe is called “Carry Out Goulash” because it is so easy to transport a meal in one Dutch oven. Mine starts with two slices of bacon, diced and partly fried. Mine also has 2 tbsp. instant tapioca to thicken all those good juices. Otherwise, they are the same and aren’t we lucky to have the recipes? 🙂
Yes we are!!!
Hi Stacey!
I just saw this on Christy Jordan’s Blog. Thanks for sharing! I guess I didn’t realize that this was actually called Goulash. Growing up, I thought it was something my Grandmother just threw together and gave it a random name. I would love to make this for my family! What size Dutch oven do you recommend for a family of four?
Welcome, Karen! I normally use a 4.5 or 5.5 qt dutch oven when making this recipe.
I have LOVED goulash my whole life, i have never made it with water. I am a little nervous to try it, but all the comments are very good so I will try it!!
Thanks for all your GREAT recipes, LOVE your page 🙂
The water all gets absorbed by the pasta. It’ll work fine, I promise! 🙂
Just have to say I tried your recipe and it was absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing.My Grandfather used pretty much the same ingredients,minus the corn for what he dubbed his”Sloppy Macaroni”except he used bacon instead of the ground beef and lots of green peppers…
Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This recipe was posted on my Face Book page. Since the weather is getting cooler, I decided it was the right time to try it. It is delicious. Even my boyfriend likes it and that is saying a lot! He is a very fussy eater. Thank you for sharing this recipe. It is a keeper 😀
Awesome! I’m so glad y’all enjoyed it!
yep, very similar to what we ate growing up and called goulash altho we knew it wasn’t Hungarian Goulash. we were on a farm and had our own canned tomatoes and used whatever vegetables we had in garden or freezer. I thought it was a Midwestern dish. I have a friend who’s family called this funeral hotdish. when neighbors sent food to a family with a death there was always at least one of these casseroles. some cooks would fancy it up by changing out the elbow macaroni by using rotini or even some crinkly noodle shapes. vegie choices were different for each family peas were common.
Stacey, My Dad would add bell pepper and a little bit of bacon when he was cooking the onion, Thank you for bringing back a great memory. I think I will make some for my family this week.
My mom made this too, but she also added green peppers and a touch of garlic. Soooo good! I still make it to this day! 🙂
Great site. Glad I stumbled upon it. I cook 6 out of 7 days per week, as my wife works later in the afternoon, it is the least I can do for her. Looking forward to visiting frequently for recipes.
So glad your found us! Let me know if you need anything.
Brings back good memories. My mom added black olives, layed it with cheese and finished it in the oven. Gooey goodness. We called it “More”, because you always wanted more, of course!
OOO, sounds delish! I love black olives. Thanks for sharing!!!
Oh my! So many people have never heard of goulash, so I couldn’t believe I was seeing a recipe for it! I have so many memories of goulash from childhood (not that it was THAT long ago 😉 but it is SO good! Our family’s recipe was almost identical, although I’m quite sure everyone in our family followed my Grannie’s lead and put a can of beef consumme in everything! Thanks for the memory 🙂
Natalie
oystersandpearls.net
Oh, I’m so glad it brought back a memory! I love how food can do that for us.
Love Goulash. Have made it for my family for forty or more years. The only difference is no corn and I stirred in 1/4 cup of sour cream just before serving.
I put red beans in it, instead of corn.
Oh my! You have no idea how long I have been looking for the goulash recipe from my childhood, minus the corn, but I’m sure that is a tasty addition! Cant wait to make this for my son and husband, thank you!!
I’m so glad you found it, Ashley! I hope that it tastes like that from your childhood and that you all enjoy it!
Oh my Lord! You KNOW you ain’t gone and made me want my Mama’s goulash! How familiar…I do believe I feel like crying…and cooking… Thank you.
LOL! Linda, I’m so glad it sparked a memory for you. Maybe it will taste like hers, too!
I love “Goulash” and your recipe sounds delicious! Thank you! I look forward to making it! On to Pinterest it goes!
Thanks, Tina! And thanks for pinning it and sharing it with others!
Was just talking to a friend about this; however I did not use the corn or paprika. Always prepared enough for leftovers.
The leftovers are the best part!!
One pot meals are some of my favorites! Thank you for sharing this recipe 🙂
Absolutely, Brenda! One pot means easy to fix and easy cleanup -even better!
My Mother made this goulash for us as well and I loved it. She also made a version of it using stew beef which I also liked. It truly was a comfort food. Thanks for the memory and the reminder. I will have to make it for my grandchildren.
Jude
Jude, I hope you will make it for your grand kids and that they develop the same kinds of memories about it that we do!
Stacey thank you so much for posting this. It does take me back to my childhood. My Mom never put corn in it, but everything else is as I remember the flavors. With one exception….My Mom put several big squirts from the ketchup bottle in as she was making it.
Thanks for bring back the memories,
Allyson
Allyson, I’m so glad that you have similar memories of this dish. And I think the squirts of ketchup would be a GREAT addition.