Enjoy a comforting, easy hamburger goulash recipe that satisfies without weighing you down, perfect for a family meal. This simple ground beef goulash is packed with flavor and comes together quickly for a delicious weeknight dinner.
This recipe delivers on all fronts: flavor, ease, and family appeal. It’s designed for those busy evenings when you want something hearty and homemade but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Easy Hamburger Goulash
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Enjoy a comforting, easy hamburger goulash recipe that satisfies without weighing you down, perfect for a family meal. This simple ground beef goulash is packed with flavor and comes together quickly for a delicious weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. 1. Brown the Ground Beef: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a spoon. Cook until it’s no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Once cooked, drain any excess fat from the pot.
2. 2. Saute Aromatics: Add the chopped onion to the pot with the cooked ground beef. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and becomes translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
3. 3. Build the Sauce Base: Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (undrained), and tomato paste. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
4. 4. Add Liquids and Seasoning: Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
5. 5. Cook the Macaroni: Uncover the pot and stir in the uncooked elbow macaroni. Increase the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer, stirring frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot, for about 10-15 minutes, or until the macaroni is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
6. 6. Rest and Serve: Remove the pot from the heat. If using, sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese and cover the pot for 2-3 minutes to allow the cheese to melt. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
Keywords: goulash, hamburger, comfort food, easy, weeknight, ground beef, pasta, one pot, family meal, macaroni
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This hamburger goulash is a true weeknight hero, perfect for anyone looking for a satisfying meal that doesn’t require a culinary degree or an endless amount of time. It’s ideal for busy parents, new cooks, or anyone who appreciates a delicious, no-fuss dinner. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and the way it brings classic comfort food to your table without the heavy feeling often associated with richer meals. It’s a complete meal in one pot, making cleanup a breeze, and it’s incredibly versatile. You can easily adjust it to suit your family’s preferences, making it a regular rotation in your meal plan. Serve it after a long day at work or school, or as a cozy weekend lunch when you want something warm and inviting.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
This recipe uses common pantry staples and fresh ingredients that are easy to find at any grocery store. You won’t need any exotic spices or specialty items, which keeps both your shopping list and your budget happy. The focus is on robust, familiar flavors that come together harmoniously.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, for topping (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
When it comes to substitutions, feel free to use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef for a lighter option. If you don’t have elbow macaroni, any small pasta shape like ditalini, small shells, or even rotini will work. For the diced tomatoes, fire-roasted diced tomatoes can add a nice smoky depth. If you’re out of beef broth, vegetable broth can be used, though it might slightly alter the flavor profile. Don’t have Italian seasoning? A mix of dried oregano, basil, and thyme will do the trick.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
One of the best features of this hamburger goulash is how quickly it comes together, making it perfect for those hectic weeknights.
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 20-25 minutes
- Total time: 30-35 minutes
This timing assumes you have your ingredients prepped and ready to go. The active cooking time is minimal, with most of the time dedicated to simmering the sauce and cooking the pasta to perfection.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Follow these simple steps to create a delicious and satisfying hamburger goulash that will become a family favorite. The key is to build layers of flavor as you go.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a spoon. Cook until it’s no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Once cooked, drain any excess fat from the pot. This step is crucial for developing the foundational flavor of the dish.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the chopped onion to the pot with the cooked ground beef. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and becomes translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. The smell of the cooking onion and garlic is your cue that the flavors are building beautifully.
- Build the Sauce Base: Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (undrained), and tomato paste. Mix well to combine all the ingredients. The mixture will look thick and rich at this stage.
- Add Liquids and Seasoning: Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. You’ll notice the sauce deepening in color and aroma.
- Cook the Macaroni: Uncover the pot and stir in the uncooked elbow macaroni. Increase the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer, stirring frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot, for about 10-15 minutes, or until the macaroni is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid. The pasta should be al dente, firm to the bite but cooked through.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the pot from the heat. If using, sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese and cover the pot for 2-3 minutes to allow the cheese to melt. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, before serving. The melted cheese will be bubbly and irresistible.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This hamburger goulash is incredibly flexible, allowing you to tailor it to your family’s tastes and what you have on hand.
For a veggie boost, consider adding diced bell peppers (any color), shredded carrots, or even a handful of frozen peas or corn during the last 5 minutes of cooking. If your kids are picky, finely grate the vegetables so they blend seamlessly into the sauce. For a touch of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be added with the Italian seasoning. To make it extra cheesy, stir in a splash of milk or cream and an extra handful of cheese at the end.
This goulash is a complete meal on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a simple side salad dressed with a light vinaigrette, or some crusty bread for soaking up every last bit of the delicious sauce. For a more substantial meal, you could serve it alongside steamed green beans or roasted broccoli. For a party or buffet, keep it warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting, and set out a bowl of extra shredded cheese and fresh herbs for guests to customize their servings.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for will ensure your goulash turns out perfectly every time.
One frequent mistake is not draining the fat from the ground beef. Leaving too much grease can make the goulash oily and less flavorful. Always drain the fat after browning the beef for a cleaner, more balanced dish.
Another common issue is overcooking the pasta. Since the macaroni cooks directly in the sauce, it can absorb liquid quickly and become mushy if left too long. Start checking for doneness around the 10-minute mark and remove it from the heat as soon as it’s al dente. Remember, it will continue to cook slightly from the residual heat.
Not stirring frequently enough while the pasta is cooking can lead to it sticking to the bottom of the pot. Give it a good stir every couple of minutes to prevent this and ensure even cooking.
Finally, skimping on seasoning can result in a bland goulash. Don’t be afraid to taste and adjust the salt and pepper before serving. The amount needed can vary based on the saltiness of your broth and diced tomatoes. A little extra salt or a dash more Worcestershire can really bring out the flavors.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This hamburger goulash is fantastic for meal prep and leftovers, often tasting even better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld.
To store, allow the goulash to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
For reheating, individual portions can be warmed in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until heated through. If reheating a larger quantity on the stovetop, add a splash of beef broth or water to loosen the sauce, as the pasta will absorb more liquid as it sits. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
While you can make the entire dish ahead of time, if you plan to freeze it, it’s best to cook the ground beef and sauce without the pasta. Freeze the sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw the sauce, bring it to a simmer, and then add the uncooked macaroni to cook fresh. This prevents the pasta from becoming mushy when thawed and reheated.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use a different type of ground meat? Absolutely! Ground turkey or ground chicken are excellent leaner alternatives to ground beef. Adjust cooking times slightly as needed
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
