What Is Goulash? (2024)

What is Goulash? What is Hungarian Goulash?

Goulash is a stew made of beef or other meat and vegetables, mostly tomatoes and bell peppers, and generously seasoned with paprika powder. The dish originated in Hungary from where it traveled to other Central European countries and beyond. As a result, there are countless goulash variations, such as pork goulash, and even goulash made with chicken or turkey.

What is Goulash Soup?

It's like goulash but with the consistency of soup instead of stew. You simply add more liquid (meat or chicken broth or water). Goulash soup is especially popular in Czech and German cuisines.

What is Goulash Traditionally Served with?

In Hungary, goulash is served with buttered egg noodles called Csipetke, which is the Hungarian word for spaetzle.

Also good to serve with goulash is any kind of small pasta, mashed potatoes, dumplings, rice or bread to mop up the delicious sauce. Don't forget a dollop of sour cream on each serving.

What is American Goulash?

The American variation of goulash follows the basic formula for goulash but it's made with ground beef and elbow macaroni cooked in a tomato sauce; some recipes also add Cheddar cheese. Besides the ingredients, what makes American goulash quite different from the goulash recipes in other countries is that everything is cooked in one pot, including the pasta. American goulash it truly a one-pot dish that lends itself to be prepared in a slow cooker.

What is the Best Beef for Goulash?

The best beef are the tougher but flavorful inexpensive boneless cuts of beef which become fork-tender during the slow cooking process. Lean beef chuck and top round are both top choices for goulash. It's best to buy the beef as a single piece as a roast, instead of pre-cut stewing beef which often contains much more fat than a lean roast.

VIDEO: How to Make Beef Goulash

Chef John's goulash is Old World comfort food at its finest. See how Chef John makes this rustic Hungarian stew inspired by the recipe of a certain famous Austrian chef. It features tender pieces of succulent beef chuck in a beautiful toasted caraway and paprika-based sauce. Serve over buttered noodles, rice, or potatoes; and garnish with sour cream and fresh marjoram.

More Favorite Goulash Recipes

Real Hungarian Goulash (No Tomato Paste Here)

"It's hard to find a real Hungarian recipe for goulash," says mentallo. "This is the real thing. Real goulash has no tomato paste or beans. Eat with a slice of rustic bread. Dip bread in sauce and clean the plate with the bread at the end. Can be eaten with spaetzle."

What Is Goulash? (1)

Goulash Supreme

Here's a one-pot American version of goulash. "Ground beef and macaroni," says Cheryle. "I serve with homemade bread."

Mama Long's Goulash Soup

"My mother received this recipe while briefly living in Germany many years ago," says Lara. "A hearty stew that can easily be modified by adding veggies of your choice! I can eat this stew all year long!"

What Is Goulash? (3)

Ground Beef Goulash

"Easy and filling meal perfect for freezing," says jdblascyk. "Goes great with salad and brownies."

What Is Goulash? (4)

Easy Classic Goulash

"This version of classic American beef goulash makes an easy one-pot meal for the whole family," says Dawn Bohler. "We love it."

What Is Goulash? (5)

Mom Sykes' Hungarian Goulash

"The lemon flavor gives you a pleasant surprise in this tender goulash served over egg noodles," says Gail Laulette.

What Is Goulash? (6)

Classic Goulash

"Easy recipe for making a classic goulash," says pathunt. "Can also be done in a slow cooker. Inspired by Paula Deen's Bobby's Goulash."

What Is Goulash? (7)

Check out our collection of Goulash Recipes.

What Is Goulash? (2024)

FAQs

What is American Goulash made of? ›

American Goulash is not the same thing as goulash in other parts of the world. This American Goulash recipe is a simple dish with ground beef and elbow macaroni simmered in tomato sauce. It is also known as “slumgullion”, Hamburger Goulash, or “American chop suey” among other names!

What's the difference between Hungarian goulash and American Goulash? ›

Hungarian Goulash is a thick meat and vegetable stew with a broth that's heavily seasoned with paprika, while American Goulash is a quick dish made from ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It also goes by the name of American Chop Suey.

Why do Americans call it goulash? ›

American goulash is usually referred to in the midwestern and southern United States as simply "goulash". As a descendant, of sorts, of Hungarian goulash, the only real connection seems to be the name, and the inclusion of beef and paprika.

What's the difference between goulash and stew? ›

Hungarian goulash is very similar to beef stew, but there are some differences. While a typical stew consists of slow braising chunks of meat with root vegetables in a seasoned broth, goulash uses spices such as caraway, cumin, paprika, and peppers which really enhance and alter the flavor from a classic beef stew.

What is true goulash made of? ›

The classic “kettle goulash” is prepared by frying cubes of beef or mutton with onions in lard. Garlic, caraway seeds, tomatoes, green peppers, and potatoes complete the stew. Székely gulyás, another Hungarian specialty, is a stew of pork and sauerkraut flavoured with tomatoes, onions, caraway seeds, and sour cream.

Is hamburger helper the same as goulash? ›

Is goulash the same as Hamburger Helper? Almost! This American goulash is made with ground beef and macaroni pasta in a tomato-y sauce which are all characteristics of the Hamburger Helper. However, goulash is more heavily spiced and tomato-focused while Hamburger Helper tends to be creamier, and cheesier.

Are American chop suey and goulash the same thing? ›

American chop suey is an American pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni and a seasoned tomato sauce, found in the cuisine of New England and other regions of the United States. Outside New England it is sometimes called American goulash or Johnny Marzetti, among other names.

What is technically goulash? ›

Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás) is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.

Are beefaroni and goulash the same thing? ›

This easy, one-pot American Goulash (aka Beefaroni) is the epitome of comfort food and a meal the entire family will love! It starts with a flavorful homemade meat sauce, then macaroni noodles cooked in the sauce, and finished with a sprinkle of cheese.

What is goulash normally served with? ›

In Hungary, goulash is served with buttered egg noodles called Csipetke, which is the Hungarian word for spaetzle. Also good to serve with goulash is any kind of small pasta, mashed potatoes, dumplings, rice or bread to mop up the delicious sauce. Don't forget a dollop of sour cream on each serving.

What are the two types of goulash? ›

There are two kinds of goulash: Hungarian goulash, which calls for the slow-simmered beef to be served alongside egg noodles, and American goulash, which pulls in ground beef and cooks the noodles in the pot alongside the sauce.

Why do people put sugar in goulash? ›

The secret to this recipe is adding a little sugar. It's an important step because it mellows the acidity of the tomatoes. It's a super simple recipe to pull together, and it basically just cooks itself.

What is a goulash slang? ›

goulash in American English

2. a heterogeneous mixture; hodgepodge; jumble.

Is beef stroganoff the same as goulash? ›

Goulash is a stew, and stroganoff is a sauce

Stroganoff, on the other hand, is pan-fried on the stove and consists of steak, mushrooms, and onions that are tossed with a sauce made of brandy and sour cream. It's traditionally served over rice instead of noodles.

Is American Goulash the same as American chop suey? ›

American chop suey is an American pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni and a seasoned tomato sauce, found in the cuisine of New England and other regions of the United States. Outside New England it is sometimes called American goulash or Johnny Marzetti, among other names.

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