By Kim Gehling    September 20, 2025

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When you think of comfort food, a hearty bowl of goulash may come to mind.

Goulash originated in Hungary as a flavorful beef and paprika stew, simmered slowly to develop deep, rich flavors. Over time, variations spread across Europe and into America, where the recipe evolved into something quite different. American goulash is often a simpler, weeknight-friendly dish that combines ground beef, pasta, tomato sauce or juice and seasonings into a filling one-pot meal.

My husband has always shared memories of adding a drizzle of syrup to his goulash when he was young. It might sound unusual, but it creates a great balance of sweet and savory flavors. When I made this recipe recently from a local church cookbook, my kids decided to try it the same way, and they loved the combination.

This Homestyle Goulash is very satisfying. The tender macaroni absorbs the tomato juice sauce, the beef makes it hearty, and the vegetables add a little texture and freshness.

If you’re looking for a comforting meal that everyone at the table can enjoy (and maybe even make their own with a drizzle of syrup) this Homestyle Goulash is worth adding to your rotation.

From our kitchen to yours — enjoy!

Homestyle Goulash

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 1 1/2 c. uncooked elbow macaroni
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 1/3 c. chopped green pepper (optional)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 T. vegetable oil
• 36 oz. tomato juice
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 3 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

1. Sauté the ground beef, macaroni, onion, green pepper, garlic and vegetable oil together in a skillet until the macaroni turns slightly yellow and the beef is browned.
2. Drain off any excess oil.
3. Add the tomato juice, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil.
4. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Uncover and continue simmering until the sauce is reduced to your preferred consistency.