Best Instant Pot Goulash Recipe (2024)

Nothing is heartier and more comforting than a big bowl of Instant Pot Goulash that’s ready in minutes!

This American version is made with seasoned ground beef and macaroni noodles in a tomato-based broth. It’s deliciously filling and unbelievably simple to make in the Instant Pot! When a quick dinner is needed, this recipe will save the day!

Best Instant Pot Goulash Recipe (1)

Instant Pot Goulash

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What is Goulash?

  • There are many kinds of goulash recipes and all are very different. A couple of popular ones are:
    • Hungarian Goulash is a savory soup made with paprika seasoned stew meat.
    • American Goulash (AKA American Chop Suey!) is a tomato-based stew with ground beef and pasta. It’s easy to make and bound to be a family favorite in no time!
  • Instant Pot Goulash is the perfect cold-weather dish because it has everything in it! Add some garlic bread or dinner rolls, a simple salad, and dinner is served!
  • Budget-friendly and perfect for a crowd, this goulash recipe is also a great way to use up leftover veggies!
Best Instant Pot Goulash Recipe (2)

Ingredients & Variations

BEEF80/20 is the best beef blend for soups and stews and only releases a minimal amount of fat. Make a vegetarian goulash by switching out the ground beef for 2 or 3 cans of drained black beans.

SAUCETomatoes and tomato paste are all it takes to make this savory sauce. Rotel is a brand of canned tomatoes that comes with diced green chilis for a spicy kick, and a dash of chili sauce will also make it a little spicy, too!

PASTA Small elbow macaroni noodles are the best size for one-pot goulash! Egg noodles, bow-tie, shells, and even orzo or white rice can be used if there’s no macaroni in the pantry.

ADD-INS Use up those leftover veggies or toss in a bag of vegetable medley to bulk up the stew. Potatoes, peas, carrots, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini are all excellent veggies for adding color, flavor, and texture to Goulash.

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How to Make Goulash in the Instant Pot

It’s so simple to make dinner in the blink of an eye with this easy method.

  1. Sauté ground beef and drain the fat.
  2. Add remaining ingredients, seal, and cook (as per the recipe below).
  3. Quick-release and stir.

Serve as is or with a delicious slice of garlic toast to soak up every last drop!

Best Instant Pot Goulash Recipe (6)

Tips for Great Goulash

  • For a thinner goulash, increase the water or add more tomatoes for a thicker stew.
  • Half of the water can be replaced with broth if desired.
  • Add vegetables to your liking, green bell pepper and mushrooms are favorites for us.
  • It is very important to scrape any brown bits off of the bottom of the IP before cooking the pasta or you may get the burn notice.
  • Perfectly reheat leftovers on the stovetop or in the microwave.

More Instant Pot Recipes

  • Easy Instant Pot Beef Brisket – a crispy and juicy dish
  • Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup – so creamy
  • Best Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce – a great sauce for all noodles
  • Instant Pot Corn Maque Choux – a cajun side dish
  • Instant Pot Black Lentils – an easy and protein filled side

4.88 from 8 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Instant Pot Goulash

One-pot Goulash is the perfect dinner for those busy nights during the week.

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Prep Time 8 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 18 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • ½ large white onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 14 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juices
  • 11 ounces pasta sauce
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 ½ cups water
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni noodles
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Turn Instant Pot on to sauté and allow the pot to heat up. Once the pot is hot, add in ground beef, garlic, and onion. Cook until meat is browned.

  • Once meat is browned, drain the fat.

  • Return the meat to the pot and in the water. Use a spatula to scrape up any brown bits. Add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and pasta.

  • Seal the lid on the Instant Pot and turn it to "Manual" high pressure for 5 minutes.

  • Once done cooking, quick release and serve.

Notes

  • For a thinner goulash, increase the water or add more tomatoes for a thicker stew.
  • Half of the water can be replaced with broth if desired.
  • Add vegetables to your liking, green bell pepper and mushrooms are favorites for us.
  • It is very important to scrape any brown bits off of the bottom of the IP before cooking the pasta or you may get the burn notice.

4.88 from 8 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 415kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 790mg | Potassium: 744mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 508IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

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Best Instant Pot Goulash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

How do you soften goulash meat? ›

8 simple tips to make meat softer
  1. Utilize the meat tenderizer. A quick and easy method is the use of the meat tenderizer. ...
  2. Cover the meat with coarse salt. ...
  3. Acid marinade. ...
  4. Marinade with fruit puree. ...
  5. Slow cooking in a pan. ...
  6. Grilling. ...
  7. Add the coarse salt halfway through cooking. ...
  8. Use baking soda.

How much is a serving of homemade goulash? ›

This Beefy American Goulash makes a little over 15 cups total, so each satisfying serving is almost 2 cups!

What is goulash called in the South? ›

American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, American Chop Suey, or even Beef-a-Roni, is an American comfort-food dish popular in the Midwest and South.

What is original 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.

How do you make meat tender in a pressure cooker? ›

Broth, water, or juices are always added along with the meat. The moist heat they provide softens the connective tissue that binds the muscle fibers in the meat, helping it to fall apart more easily.

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.

What can I use to thicken goulash? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

Is Goulash high in carbs? ›

Goulash, with beef, noodles or macaroni, tomato base (1 cup) contains 35.2g total carbs, 29.8g net carbs, 7.9g fat, 16.5g protein, and 275 calories.

How much ground beef for 4 meals? ›

One pound of ground beef can go a long way if you're cooking for one. In fact, we can get at least four single serving meals out of just one pound.

What is considered a serving of Goulash? ›

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Why is American Goulash so different? ›

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 country has the best goulash? ›

Hungary's most famous food, the goulash, is a crimson-hued beef soup laced with vegetables and imparting the sweet-sharp flavor of fresh paprika. The dish is named after the herdsmen in eastern Hungary — the gulyás — who prepared this hearty soup in large cast-iron kettles.

Why is it called Hungarian goulash? ›

The name originates from the Hungarian gulyás [ˈɡujaːʃ]. The word gulya means 'herd of cattle' in Hungarian, and gulyás means 'herdsman' or 'cowboy'. The word gulyás originally meant only 'herdsman', but over time the dish became gulyáshús ('goulash meat') – that is to say, a meat dish which was prepared by herdsmen.

What is another name for American Goulash? ›

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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