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

Jump to Recipe

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! :)

  • Classic Old-Fashioned Goulash (stovetop version)
  • Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup
  • Instant Pot Spaghetti
  • Instant Pot Pot Roast
  • Instant Pot Beef Stew (really good!)
  • Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
  • Chicken Cobbler
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 are the two types of goulash? ›

Hungarian goulash and American goulash. Hungarian goulash is a thick soup with meat and vegetables, usually seasoned with paprika. American goulash is very different. It generally has tomato sauce, macaroni and beef.

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.

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 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.

What is another name for American goulash? ›

American Goulash has many names, depending on the region you're from – Slumgullion, American Chop Suey, Johnny Marzetti, and even Beefaroni.

What do you normally eat goulash with? ›

It is made of beef and red wine, and seasoned with rosemary, red paprika, bay leaf, marjoram and lemon zest, served with crusty white bread or polenta.

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? ›

Traditional goulash is a stew/soup, usually using a cheaper cut of meat suited to slow cooking. It usually contains potatoes and other vegetables, as well as noodles. A true stroganoff consists of paprika-dusted fillet steak quickly pan fried with mushrooms and onions in a sour cream and brandy sauce.

What is slumgullion made of? ›

Ground beef, macaroni and tomato, great flavor and a quick cooking time.

How to thicken goulash? ›

Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking. Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil. This will cook out the flour taste and allow the starch to swell.

What is origin American 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.

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 the difference between goulash and 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.

What is the difference between goulash and slumgullion? ›

Is Slumgullion the same as goulash? Slumgullion is another name for American goulash. The American version is similar to the original Hungarian version, but the American version is less like a stew and more like a quick one-pot meal.

What country invented goulash? ›

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. Its origin may be traced back as far as the 10th century, to stews eaten by Hungarian shepherds.

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 the difference between Austrian and Hungarian goulash? ›

In Austra it is a dish with big pieces of beef in a thick and for long hours cooked sauce of onions and peppers (mostly called 'Gulasch' in Austria), in Hungary, “Gulyas” is a soup of similar taste but contains much less beef than the Austrian variety.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ouida Strosin DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6077

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ouida Strosin DO

Birthday: 1995-04-27

Address: Suite 927 930 Kilback Radial, Candidaville, TN 87795

Phone: +8561498978366

Job: Legacy Manufacturing Specialist

Hobby: Singing, Mountain biking, Water sports, Water sports, Taxidermy, Polo, Pet

Introduction: My name is Ouida Strosin DO, I am a precious, combative, spotless, modern, spotless, beautiful, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.