Chef John's Classic American Goulash
Chef John's Classic American Goulash brings tender elbow macaroni and juicy ground beef together in a rich, tomato-forward sauce with paprika, Italian herbs, and a hint of cayenne. The slow-simmered broth and marinara blend give it comforting depth and gentle heat. Serve it on cool evenings or for an easy family dinner when you want a hearty, nostalgic bowl.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook1 hr 5 mins
- Serves12
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Classic American Goulash, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 51 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 16
- Heart Health
- 63
- Metabolic
- 30
- Digestive
- 21
- Inflammatory
- 44
- Performance
- 42
- General Wellness
- 1
Assemble all the ingredients.
- 2
Heat oil in a pot over medium-high. Add ground beef and onion; cook and stir until the beef is browned and crumbly and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Keep cooking and stirring until the liquid cooks off, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, bay leaves, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and cayenne.
- 3
Cook, stirring now and then, until the flavors meld, about 3 minutes. Add the broth, marinara sauce, and diced tomatoes. Pour water into the sauce jar, swirl, and add it to the pot. Stir in soy sauce; bring to a simmer. Lower the heat to medium and simmer until the flavors deepen, about 30 minutes.
- 4
Raise the heat to medium-high and bring to a strong simmer. Stir in the macaroni; cook, stirring occasionally, until just barely tender, about 12 minutes. Begin checking for doneness after 10 minutes.
- 5
Take off the heat and discard the bay leaves. Stir in Cheddar and parsley. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Calories 396.17 kcal Moderate 20%
- Protein 22.44 g Good Source 45%
- Carbohydrate 32.96 g 12%
- Total Fat 19.47 g High 25%
- Saturated Fat 7.41 g High 37%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 63.46 mg High 21%
- Sodium 832.94 mg High 36%
- Dietary Fiber 3.98 g Moderate 14%
- Total Sugars 6.43 g --
- Added Sugars 0.85 g Low Source 2%
- Calcium 117.42 mg Low Source 9%
- Iron 3.46 mg Moderate 19%
- Potassium 414.95 mg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin A 50.76 mcg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin C 5.19 mg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Soy 🌱
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Classic American Goulash is made with 18 ingredients and serves 12. It takes about 1 hr 20 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Broth, and Diced Tomatoes. Each serving provides about 396.17 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Classic American Goulash made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chicken Broth, Diced Tomatoes, Dried Bay Leaves. The full list of 18 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Classic American Goulash?
- About 1 hr 20 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 1 hr 5 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 396.17 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Classic American Goulash easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 18 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Chef John's Classic American Goulash healthy?
- Chef John's Classic American Goulash has an easyChef Pro health score of 43/100. Per serving, it provides 396.17 calories and 22.44 g of protein, or 45% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 832.94 mg (36% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.41 g (37% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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