BEST Instant Pot Goulash Recipe | Old Fashioned American Goulash (2024)

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Old-fashioned Instant Pot goulash is a classic family dish that comes together easily in your pressure cooker. Whether you call it goulash, Johnny Marzetti, or American chop suey, you have to agree that this recipe is simply THE BEST!

BEST Instant Pot Goulash Recipe | Old Fashioned American Goulash (1)

Pressure Cooker Goulash Recipe

Readers have been begging me to create an Instant Pot version of my popular Old-Fashioned Goulash recipe.

Therefore, I’m SO happy to be sharing this incredible Instant Pot goulash recipe with you today!

This is the most popular recipe on my blog, and thousands of Pinterest users have tried and loved this easy family recipe!

Our Instant Pot goulash recipe is SPECIAL and UNIQUE! In other words, It’s not just pasta, meat, and a jar of sauce.

It’s loaded with quality, real ingredients that come together to make a flavorful family meal.

PRO Instant Pot Tip: How To Fix The C6L Error On Your Instant Pot

BEST Instant Pot Goulash Recipe | Old Fashioned American Goulash (2)

How to Make Instant Pot Goulash

Note, this is American goulash. Sometimes it’s also called American chop suey or for Ohioans like me, Johnny Marzetti.

Are you looking for Hungarian-style goulash recipe? Then check out this one.

Certainly, I love easy recipes. I’m not above using a jar of pasta sauce!

However, you just can’t beat the depth of flavor achieved when using my special combination of delicious ingredients.

BEST Instant Pot Goulash Recipe | Old Fashioned American Goulash (3)

If you’re saying to yourself, enough talk already, just SHOW ME THE RECIPE, then just scroll down toward the bottom of the page to get our complete Instant Pot goulash recipe! :)

BEST Instant Pot Goulash Recipe | Old Fashioned American Goulash (4)

Cook the ground beef

Firstly, set the Instant Pot to sauté. When hot, add the olive oil, onion, and garlic; sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and brown until no pink remains. Spoon off any excess liquid.

Add the additional ingredients

Secondly, add the one cup of beef broth and stir to deglaze. Add the 2 cups of water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and the remaining seasonings. Stir well. Stir in the elbow macaroni.

Cook on high pressure

Finally, put on the lid, set to sealing, and set to high pressure for 1 minute, with a quick release. After that, when all the pressure is released carefully remove lid and stir. Make sure to turn off the keep warm function to prevent the pasta from overcooking. Serve your Instant Pot goulash IMMEDIATELY for best results! Top with shredded cheese, optional, but honestly… who wouldn’t? :)

BEST Instant Pot Goulash Recipe | Old Fashioned American Goulash (5)

Tips for Making Instant Pot Old-Fashioned Goulash

I make this goulash recipe in my 6-quart Instant Pot. You will need to use a 6-quart or larger pot to accommodate this recipe. I’ve been thinking about getting an 8-quart pot, myself. Do you have one? Do you love it?

In addition, be sure sure to break up your ground beef well during the sautéing phase. I recently got this tool to break up meat in my Instant Pot and it works better than a wooden spoon.

Important note about cooking time. While it may seem like 1 minute at high pressure is not enough time, trust me, it is. Keep in mind that the pasta will be starting to cook while the pot comes up to pressure.

I find that the 1 minute with a QUICK RELEASE produces a JUST al-dente pasta that will hold up on day two and three. If you want your pasta to be even closer to true al-dente, you could cook for 0 minutes at high pressure with a quick release.

Moreover, if find the pasta is still too tough for your liking, it’s a very simple fix. Put the lid back on and let it sit for a minute or two. You can make your pasta softer, but you don’t want to go too far and have mushy pasta hence the 1 minute cook time!

Finely grate your own cheese (like in my picture) for the most luscious results. You can use the bagged stuff too, of course! :)

I am SUCH an IP-recipe junkie. In fact, I just tried Jessica’s Instant Pot Baked Ziti, and y’all, it’s SO GOOD!

More Delicious Recipes

Did you make this recipe? It really is the BEST! If you loved it and want to really help this site, consider leaving a rating, comment, and pinning this recipe to your favorite Pinterest boards. Your support helps us so much! :)

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BEST Instant Pot Goulash Recipe | Old Fashioned American Goulash (6)

Yield: 10 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Old-fashioned Instant Pot goulash is a delicious family meal that your whole family will love! This reminds me of the Johnny Marzetti that my grandma used to make when I was a kid!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 2 large yellow onions, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 cups of water
  • (2) 15-ounce cans tomato sauce
  • (2) 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Set the Instant Pot to sauté. When hot, add the olive oil, onion, and garlic; sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and brown until no pink remains. Spoon off any excess liquid.
  2. Add the one cup of beef broth and stir to deglaze. Add the 2 cups of water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and the remaining seasonings. Stir well. Stir in the elbow macaroni.
  3. Put on the lid, set to sealing position, and set to high pressure for 1 minute, with a quick release. After all the pressure is released carefully remove lid and stir. Make sure to turn off the keep warm function to prevent the pasta from overcooking. Top with shredded cheese, optional.

Notes

  • Remove the inner pot after cooking is complete to allow for faster cooling.
  • Serve IMMEDIATELY for best results!
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 342Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 651mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 31g

BEST Instant Pot Goulash Recipe | Old Fashioned American Goulash (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between American and traditional goulash? ›

American goulash is a one-pot dish of ground beef, pasta (often elbow macaroni), tomatoes and cheese. Sometimes it includes paprika, like its Hungarian counterpart. Since American goulash calls for ground beef, it cooks much faster than Hungarian goulash which relies on low-and-slow cooking to render the beef tender.

What is original goulash made of? ›

Compulsory ingredients are meat and onions, usually in 50-50% ratio, paprika, and lard or oil, other ingredients being optional: garlic, parsley, chili pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, bell peppers, carrots, tomatoes, red wine, mushrooms, bacon.

What is American goulash made of? ›

This hardy American Goulash Recipe is one of my kids' favorites. It is a classic dish from our childhoods similar to Hamburger Helper, with ground beef and elbow macaroni cooked in a savory tomato sauce and topped with cheese. It's so easy to make this comforting one-pot meal.

What is the 9th century goulash? ›

goulash, traditional stew of Hungary. The origins of goulash have been traced to the 9th century, to stews eaten by Magyar shepherds. Before setting out with their flocks, they prepared a portable stock of food by slowly cooking cut-up meats with onions and other flavourings until the liquids had been absorbed.

What ethnicity makes goulash? ›

The invention of goulash began with one of the humblest groups in Hungarian society, the cowherds, according to the distinguished Hungarian ethnologist Eszter Kisbán.

What country is famous for goulash? ›

Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás) is one of the national dishes of Hungary. It is a beef (though many times you see pork) and vegetable soup, made with tender chunks of meat with root vegetables simmered slow and low for hours in a rich broth seasoned with plenty of sweet paprika.

What is German goulash made of? ›

This German Goulash is what the Swabians in Germany call “Hungarian Goulash”. Ha! A juicy and tender beef stew made with paprika, peppers, and a red wine sauce. Originally goulash (gulyás) is from Hungary but over the centuries this traditional stew obviously traveled into different cuisines, including German cuisine.

What do you eat with goulash? ›

Serve up a hearty goulash for the ultimate comforting stew on winter nights. Searching for the perfect accompaniment? Try mashed potato, dumplings or your favourite veg.

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? ›

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? Traditional goulash is a type of soup or stew that uses a cheaper cut of meat suitable for slow cooking as well as peppers. Meanwhile, stroganoff is a creamy dish that uses higher-quality meat and mushrooms.

Why is goulash so good? ›

The fat content will help that. Two other ingredients which set goulash apart from regular stew are tomato paste, and paprika. The tomato paste will help with the rich taste, and the paprika will give it a nice spicy kick, perfect for those cold winter evenings. Try to get Hungarian sweet paprika if you can.

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.

Why is American goulash so different? ›

Italian seasoning – Here's one of the big differences between American goulash and Hungarian goulash. Instead of paprika, the American version uses Italian seasoning which includes oregano, basil, and dried parsley. Bay leaf – This adds another layer of flavor to the goulash.

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

American goulash is more of a pasta and ground beef dish

Owing more influence to Italian-American cuisine than Hungarian, paprika isn't even a consistent addition, per Syracruse.com. The nostalgic family meal is synonymous with American chop suey, another macaroni-based one-pot dish.

What is goulash slang for? ›

Definition of 'goulash'

2. a heterogeneous mixture; hodgepodge; jumble.

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 is the difference between Hungarian goulash and Czech goulash? ›

Czech goulash differs from Hungarian goulash, of course. It tends to be milder and beefier, with fewer vegetables than its Hungarian counterpart; it's sometimes made with beer, and it's always served with houskové knedlíky, the ubiquitous Czech bread dumplings, not noodles, potatoes, nor sour cream.

What is the difference between Hungarian goulash and stew? ›

Though one noticeable thing about traditional Goulash is that the broth is thinner than what you think of with stews, and it's not thickened with flour or cream. Also, it's not typically served over mash like stews, it's served in bowls like soup.

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