Southern Goulash!


When we were growing up, my mother made two very different types of  'goulash'.  One was a Hungarian goulash that was chunks of beef in a sour cream sauce spiced with paprika and served over egg noodles and the other one was a southern type of goulash that I think just about every southern mama had some sort of  'recipe' for.   Now, this wasn't an actual recipe, but just what they probably grew up on themselves or something.   This was a hamburger goulash and Mama's always has elbow macaroni in it.  It was cooked in a tomato type sauce, but not spaghetti sauce, just tomatoes and/or tomato sauce.  Sometimes, if my mother didn't have tomato sauce, she might even use a can of tomato soup.  

I used to think that I actually liked the Hungarian goulash best, but after I grew up I found myself liking the southern goulash more.   It's a quick, economic meal that really stretches a pound of ground beef.  Is this how your mother made goulash, probably not exactly, but maybe similar.  I think every family did it a little different.  But here is what you'll need for my mama's goulash:

1 lb. ground chuck, browned
1 medium onion, chopped
1/3 cup red or green bell pepper chopped
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
1  15 oz. can of stewed tomatoes
1  15 oz. can tomato sauce
4 cups of water
1 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. Italian seasoning or 1 tsp. basil and 1 tsp. oregano
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning like Tony Chachere's (optional)
dash of Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 


Brown ground beef along with the chopped onion and the chopped bell pepper. 




Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, seasonings, macaroni and water.  Bring to a boil then turn to low. Stir well to be sure it isn't sticking and then cover and simmer until the macaroni is tender and most of the water is absorbed.  If it seems too dry add a little more water,  If it's too liquid, just leave the top off for a little while and turn the heat up a little.  The extra water will evaporate.  It's usually not too moist, but sometimes you do have to add a little water. Don't overcook the pasta.




Before serving sprinkle with the Parmesan and the cheddar cheeses. If you used an oven proof pan, you can run this in the oven to melt the cheese or just cover and let it melt on the stove. The cheese is something I added. My mother didn't put cheese on hers. I just happen to like cheese! 







   



81 comments:

  1. My Southern mom made a variation of this using economical and pantry-friendly Spam. I didn't grow up thinking Spam was awful. I grew up thinking it was this delicious hammy meat baked up in tomato sauce with elbow macaroni and cheese and bread crumbs on top. I didn't know what anyone had to complain about (although I can't stand to eat it any other way - fried spam sandwiches - bleck.) She made it pretty much the same way you made this! Along with the option to shove it in the oven at the end to brown the cheese and bread crumbs. I've made it for people and they can't believe they're eating Spam. Friends outside the family ask for the recipe. Just another southern goulash!

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  2. We ate Spam when I was growing up also. I hear they eat a of it in Hawaii. It's the number one meat product there. My mother used to put in it a macaroni and cheese casserole.


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    1. Yeah, they used to have Spam in military rations and alot of the soldiers gave it away to the islanders. It's the no 1 Spam eating state in the country~

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  3. Pat, it just depends on how much your family eats. I would say it feeds six pretty easily if you add a salad and bread.

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  4. We had multiple goulashes consisting of whatever was in the house. My mamma also called it "da ha" pronounced with the short a sound. She always laughed when she said it. In college we used to take canned spaghetti and ground beef (sauted of course) and mix it together and put a layer of american cheese on top. ( if we had onions and all that we would saute those in too) but sometimes this would feed a small group of girls in the dorm. We would chip in for this gourmet feast. Occasionally I make it now just for the fun of it.

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    1. This was a standard on our dinner table when my husband and I first got married and were on a very limited budget. Chef Borardee and hamburger were lifesavers. :)

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    2. My mom always made it using canned spaghetti also. I personally don't like it like that but it is a memory thing. One of my nieces posted last nite they were having "Grandma's goulash" and fried potatoes for supper; 2 or 3 more popped up wishing they lived closer. Whenever my mom fixed "goulash" she always fixed fried potatoes with it!

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    3. My mom made it with a couple slices of bacon fried with minced onion, a jar of home canned tomatoes and cooked noodles and a little tomatoe juice if more liquid was needed. Had it with mashed potatoes and white beans and corn bread. One of my favorite meals.

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  5. They do eat a lot of it here in Hawaii. You can even get it for breakfast at McDonald's. Some stores it takes up a whole section of shelves (about 4ft. wide and 4 or 5 shelves).

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    Replies
    1. Ahhh Bruno &Spam lol

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    2. I bet the Spam version is popular in Hawaii. I never knew about Spam until I lived there.

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  6. Very similar to my mom's recipe and mine. Don't put cheese in it.

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  7. troublechey8@yahoo.comOctober 13, 2012 at 4:34 PM

    my mom passed a goolosh recipe down to me
    ingred.
    1-1.1/2 hamburger
    1 med. onion chopped
    salt pepper to taste
    1 Tab. ketchup (on this 2 you can add to taste)
    1 Tab. mustard
    1 can of chicken gumbo soup and then 1/2can water after you pour soup in frying pan(campbells only company that makes it)only place i can find it is walmart.
    fry onions till brown and see thru and then add hambuger....then when its done drain well
    in mean time put soup in frying pan and everything else then put meat and onions back in
    simmer about 20-30 mins
    pour over bread slices
    ENJOY! we have been enjoying this recipe for over 50 yrs and still love it....

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    1. This was my mom's recipe for 'Sloppy Joes' served on hamburger buns! Sweet tea's recipe is pretty close to her goulash minus the cheese and some seasonings-I sure miss her versions I grew up on!

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    2. We call that recipe Superior burgers here in Tennessee.

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    3. This was my mom's recipe for Sloppy Joes also. I grew up on it, raised my children with it and now my children make it for my grandchildren. I had never seen it in print, we just made it from memory.

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  8. My mom made Goulash with crumbled hamburger, canned tomatoes, onions, and rice. Then we spooned it over mashed potatoes.

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  9. Always had this growing up. Raised our own beef, pork, chicken, so the meat changed. My husband calls it hamburger mess, our homemade form of Hamburger Helper. Use whatever is on hand, even beans or squash. Whatever garden has for us. Still raise all our own meat.

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  10. My mom never mada a goulosh but my ex mother in law did and she was from the mid west. They used macaroni, scrambled gr. beef, garlic, a stick of butter and either tomato juice or V8 juice, whichever they had on hand. I prefer and still make it with the V8 juice.

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  11. My mother made "goulash" with elbow mac, ground beef, tomatoes and lots of cheese. I make the same. It's a great dish!
    I'm Missouri, grew up in the Ozarks. The macaroni type goulash was served at least once a week, when I was a child. The leftovers are excellent, too.:-)

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  12. Just made can't wait till hubby brings home Garlic Bread Thankies

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  13. Your recipe is almost like mine.
    I used canned tomatoes with chili's to add a little heat and tomato puree and a can of corn and the macaroni is cooked separate with sauce on top served with side salad and garlic bread.

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  14. I saw the SLOPPY JOES above.....made these in the 50's with burger...browned with onion and garlic, chicken gumbo soup and a lot of ketchup.The longer you simmer the better it gets. Serve it on buns for a great tasting supper.

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  15. We have had this dish for so many years.. The kids used to love hamburger helper but it didn't always make enough...so back to our Goolash! Sometimes I added English peas and/or corn. Now I need to make it. Really appreciate all the easy family friendly meals you post! Keep up the good work!

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  16. My Mama made a southern goulash also, of which I wish I could find the recipe. It probably dates back to the Civil War since my Great Grandfather had fought in the war and it probably trickled down from her Grandmother to her Mother and then her. I once attended a group activity by the Confederate and Union re-enactors of the Civil War. One of the settings they had on display was of them cooking at camp. They were cooking something very similar to what my Mama had cooked when I was a little girl. I wish I had asked questions, got a recipe, anything, but I didn't. So, now I have looked and looked for this recipe and have had no luck finding it.

    The Southern Goulash that my Mama made was very similar in texture to that of corn bread dressing before it is cooked. She would cook it on top of the stove like a stew. It had chicken in it and corn bread, onions and celery. Just like uncooked dressing. And it tasted just like dressing. I'm afraid to try to replicate and waste ingredients without a recipe. If anyone has this Goulash recipe or if anyone is not afraid to try it, please post the recipe.

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  17. MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS MADE IT WITH ALMOST THE SAME INGREDIENTS, EXCEPT SHE MADE IT WITH HOME CANNED TOMATOES FROM HER GARDEN, AND SHE MADE IS MORE LIKE A SOUP, WITH MELTED VELVETTA, I STILL MAKE IT THIS WAY, YUMMY!

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  18. Mama's was very simple:
    Ground beef
    onions
    bell pepper
    can diced tomatoes
    macaroni
    salt and pepper, to taste.

    I still make this, especially in the summer. We love it with just buttered white bread.

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    1. That is how we have always made ours still to this day :)

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    2. Ours was the same.. My bad was I love it with fried potatoes....... LOL

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  19. I brown my hamburgher, and onions, salt and pepper and then drain. then add two cans of tomato soup and let simmer till it does not taste like tomato soup. Cook my macaroni, 1 box, till done as I want it and then mix with hamburgher mixture. Delicious!!!!

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  20. In the 80's, while raising two babies on one small income from my husband's job, which we were fortunate to have, I managed to feed the four of us, plus diaper 2 babies (at the same time) on $40 a week. It took a lot of penny-pinching, sale shopping, generic-buying, and creativity. Fortunately, I grew up learning a lot about scratch-cooking, so that's what we relied on. I managed to cobble together a lot of budget-friendly dishes, some of which I didn't even realize weren't my own! Mine came together from a box of macaroni and cheese, a pound of ground beef and a can of stewed tomatoes. It was tasty, filling, and really stretched out a very strained budget!

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    1. I make mine with the boxed Macaroni and Cheese (i use the deluxe), ground beef cooked with onions and a can of Rotel - just adds a little spice!!!

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  21. So many many ways to fix this dish. I have been making it 1 or 2 times a month for about 40 years. It is my go to dish if I can't come up with something else.

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  22. My Granny made it with Bacon fried with the onions and added the stewed tomatoes and macaroni. My mother always serves it with fries cornbread which we put it over. YUM!

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  23. We had this growing up too. My mom always put Velveeta in it. I have changed it up a little, using the green pepper, a can of peas drained and sprinkling the cheddar on top. Still have to have a little Velveeta though...I still love it. My kids got pretty sick of it..but when they come over and I fix it now, they wax nostalgic.....Garlic toast goes well with it.

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  24. We had close to everyone else's recipe except it was put together then cornbread was made to pour over the casserole dish and baked till cornbread was done...so good!

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  25. My version never had a name... usually just called it Macaroni with tomato and hamburger. Sometimes called it Johnny Marzetti. I just use macaroni, ground beef and onion, garlic powder, worcestershire sauce, a quart of canned tomatoes, a small can of tomato sauce, salt and pepper, a dash of cayenne, and a dried bell pepper seasoning I got at some home party like Pampered Chef or another one of those kind. If I don't have that, I might use a little finely chopped green pepper. It's fast, easy, and economical! Never did put cheese in it, but my Mom always put pamesan on top of hers.

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  26. I used to make my version of the goulash all the time. My husband referred to it as "slum goo" He loved it though, and kids did too, growing up.

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  27. i also made this when my kids were little i only used hambugar,tomatoes and noodles and water,we ate it like soup it was oh so good>>:-)

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  28. I think this is what folks up North call "American Chop Suey"...it was a staple in my home growing up in the 70's.

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  29. Our recipe was, 2 cans of vegetarian vegetable soup 9no water), and one pound browned ground beef.
    Loved it and still consider it one of my "comfort foods."

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  30. My recipe was, 1 lb. hamburger fried & drained
    1 cup sm. or lg. shell macaroni, uncooked
    1 can stewed tomatoes with tomato/green chill mild
    1 8 oz tomato sauce
    1/1/2 TBL.brown sugar
    catsup to taste.
    Add water & put lid on pan & cook until macaroni is soft. You can also add red beans.(Optional)

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  31. I love goulash!! My Mom always called it Hungarian Goulash.She just used canned tomatoes with tomato sauce along with the hamburger neat & a box of macaroni. I think I'll try it with cheese on top as I love cheese too. Thanks for reminding me of this dish.

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  32. We had goulash all the time growing up in the South. My mother made it with canned corned beef, and it was delicious!! Gave it a really different taste than all the hamburger dishes we might have. However, she did not use any cheese.
    Using the corned beef, you can also had in green olives for an added punch.

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    1. My mother used the canned corned beef too and I loved it. Still make it from time to time. And, you are right, green olives really add a punch!

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    2. My mother always made it with canned corned beef too. I still make it that way, sometimes adding green olives or canned corn. Love it with corned beef!!

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    3. So did you fry the corned beef? And do you use sliced olives? Thanks! I love corned beef AND green olives....

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  33. I love goulash My kids always ask for a can of corn in it. Have to make some haven't made in a long time

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  34. sometimes I get rid of the spices mentions and add a pkg of Taco seasoning call it western goulash.

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  35. I grew up on this and I make it for my kids. Only mine is much simpler. Hamburger, onion, elbow noodles, large can diced tomatoes, 2 cans kidney beans (1 1/2 cans of water) salt and pepper. My kids friends ask for it when they come over and they devour it with a loaf of bread and butter.

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    1. Pettty much like mine...except I add chilli powder to kick it up a notch! Grew up with this.

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    2. Pettty much like mine...except I add chilli powder to kick it up a notch! Grew up with this.

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    3. My mother fixed it the same way . So delicious, still fix it today.

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  36. We have a variation of this without the beef. We render streaked fat back (like you are making kilt lettuce and onions) pull the meat out, and while the grease is still hot, pour in a jar of home canned tomatoes (you can use 2-3 cans store bought) and let the juice cook down a bit. It'll get to be a deeper color than plain tomatoes. We mix in our cooked elbows and then crumble the streaked meat on top before we eat it. Its like little nuggets of gold. :) Its also a heart attack in the pan, so we only have it occasionally. :)

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  37. My mother used to fix this quite often when I was young. I've searched recipes to find a similar recipe but could only find the Hungarian type with the noodles and cream sauce. I had just about decided I had imagined it all until seeing your recipe. Thank you!

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  38. We always called this "Mom's Saturday Nite Special". We always had this on a Saturday night and she usually sliced polish sausage (like coins) and put that in with home canned stewed tomatoes and the elbow macaroni. Still making it 50 years later.

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  39. I always make this. I brown hamburger. Then mix it with 1 can of tomato soup, 1 can of tomatoes, salt and pepper and macorni. Cook macorni first. Mix all together. On top I put Velvetta cheese and put in mirco oven and cook till cheese melts. All my children, grandchildren and husband loves this.

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  40. This was the first thing we learned how to make in "Home Ec". So I guess I've been making it for 50+ years. I still remember what a three ring circus 3 or 4 girls could achieve. We let the macaroni boil over which doused the flame on the gas stove. I can see our teacher now screaming at us to turn off the gas and don't light it yet, LOL! I'm sure she went home with a headache that day.

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  41. we always used a can of pork-n-beans added to our goulash

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  42. i make mine with macaroni,ground beef, onions, tomatoes, tbsp tomato paste, i brown the hamburger, onions, cook the maxaroni seperate then add it all together, simmer about 30 mins

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  43. Oh my goodness...all the comments! My Mother (and I) make this as well, minus the cheese. We call it "Slumgullion" though. Goulash was only used for the hungarian variety. Slumgullion is a great way to stretch the meat to feed the family and its really very good!

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  44. This is basically my recipe but my family likes leftover pinto beans in it also

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  45. I make this similar to your recipe but I use ground turkey instead of hamburger and add some ketchup. My mother-in-law was the one who told me she used ketchup. We all love this, especially my son who calls it "turkey slop", Name doesn't sound like it would be good, but it is wonderful!

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  46. My goodness that looks yummy... :D

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  47. My goodness, that looks yummy... :D

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  48. Would you please share the maker of this dishes? I love blue & white dishes.

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  49. My Mom called it Johnny Marzetti, but I use Macaroni Both ground sauge & Beef with the spices Diced Tomatoes Tomato paste & Pineapple chunks. It yummy
    doug in Ohio

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  50. We call it Socamarulee-I make this in one pot...brown hamburger, onions, chilli powder, garlic powder, salt & pepper to taste...3 or 4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce, when brown add 1 lb. of elbow macaroni or your favorite pasta, 1 large can or jar of pasta sauce, 1 1/2 cans or jars of water...stirring occasionally...make sure you use a large pan because it makes a lot...I usually use 1-2 lbs hamburger...cheap, quick meal that goes a LOOOOONNNNGGG way!!

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  51. I learned to make goulash in my Family Living class in high school, many years ago. Similar to these, but we use hb, onion and green pepper. Then add tomato catsup, pork n beans and cooked macaroni. I have used baked beans instead of pork n beans and it's good. The catsup gives it a better flavor I believe. My dad used to ask me to make this for him quite often.

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  52. Kinda call ours "Dump Soup" and it will last us two to three nights sometimes. I slow cook a large roast (usually pork) in the crock pot the night before for pulled pork sandwiches then the leftover meat I save for "Dump Soup" We use onions, peppers, corn, green beans sand tomatoes all from the garden & stew them in the crock pot in the leftover juices from last nights roast. Add the pulled pork after all of that has cooked good and keep it on warm till everyone comes in to eat. Serve it over Egg noodles and they love it!! Leftovers the next night are drained of all extra juices mixed with some cooked macaroni noodles and spread out in a baking dish and covered with cheese. Baked in the oven till cheese is melted and all gooey :) BUT.... pouring the cornbread over it and baking sounds amazing might have to try that one!!!

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  53. My favorite ghoulash is made really simple:

    1 lb Hamburg, Spam, or Smoked Sausage
    1 lb macaroni, any shape you want
    1 - 16oz cans Tomato sauce
    1 cup Butter
    1 16oz can Tomatoes
    Parmesan Cheese
    Salt, Pepper, Adobo

    - Fry up your Hamburg, and drain it. set aside
    - cook your macaroni, according to package. Drain.
    - open Tomatoes and drain them.
    - Add sauce, butter, seasonings, tomatoes to your hot macaroni.
    - Heat mixture to make sure it is hot before serving.
    - Add Parmesan Cheese to the top, if you please. Enjoy!

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  54. 20 years ago I was at a guys house with some friends. I was hungry & he gave me a bowl of his mom's goulash. I'd never had goulash before & it was delicious! I told him I was gonna marry him because he gave me such yummy food! We started dating a few weeks later & are now happily married with 3 kids. Goulash is great, lol!

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  55. My Mama always made this goulash but my Daddy always called it "up-chuck" because it looked like someone had already eaten it.lol Therefore, it's always called "up-chuck" in our family. I've never used cheese. Mama would include bacon pieces when she fried up the onions and burger. I, however, just crumble bacon on top to serve it. Always made sure to have enough bacon for each bite. yummy think I'll make it tonight.

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  56. I make mine a couple times a month, when spaghetti grows old & tired... But very, very simple. I use ground beef, slice half and onion in the beef season with salt, pepper and chili powder. Then use two standard cans of tomato pasted with two cans of water. Once everything is cooked, I put it in a big pot and mix it all together. We generally top it off with some shredded cheese and parmesan. Cornbread on the side =)

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  57. the way I make it.... ground beef,mac noodles,tomatoes,corn ,taco seasoning mix,salt,pepper.

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  58. My Mom made goulash as she called it but I don't know ingredients. I know there was hamburger onions and something sweet. She used elbows. Any ideas as it was delicious.

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  59. Everyone always thought my moms goolash was weird, but we enjoyed it very much! It was rice (not noodles), kidney beans, hamburger, canned tomatoes and some spices (garlic and onion powder, salt, pepper) thrown all together... Very yummy!

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  60. When I was in college studying meal management, one of my table mates suggested this for our project. It was the same except it had green peas in it.

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  61. Similar to what I started making as goulash, when I could think of nothing else to fix and needing something fast. Brown the meat, add chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, some seasonings. Cook elbow mac, layer mac, meat, shredded cheese, repeat, put under broiler till cheese is bubbling and brown.

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