Goulash Soup – Beef and Tomato Macaroni Soup
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Goulash Soup AKA Beef and Tomato Macaroni Soup is one of the most comforting soups out there! It’s filled with flavorful pieces of ground beef, sweet tomatoes, hearty macaroni, and a herbed broth. Quick to make with simple ingredients, this dish is destined to become a dinnertime staple!
Goulash Soup
This soup is just like what we had as kids called “Goulash” or “Cowboy Delight” in soup form. And let’s be honest: What kind of names are those for dinner? Definitely not the classiest, but that doesn’t really matter I guess does it? Whether you call it a Hungarian Goulash, beef stew, or chili mac soup, all you need to know is that it’s delicious.
What really matters is that this is one hundred percent, homestyle comfort food right here, just like what mom used to make.
I have been craving this stuff for years and everyone has always laughed and said “Wait you like that stuff?”
Yes, I love the stuff and I was out to prove it can be delicious, so today I’m sharing my version that’s a step up from some of the sugary ketchup versions your mom may have made :). I like to make this on the stovetop to simmer in a dutch oven, but you could also use your instant pot.
Beef Goulash Recipe Variations
Every family probably has a similar recipe they ate growing up, each with their own variations and preferences. Get creative with this one!
- Top with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese like a chili
- Stir in frozen corn during the last few minutes for authentic goulash flavor
- Swap your elbow macaroni noodles for wagon wheels with Western vibes or egg noodles like a Stroganoff
- Sweet Hungarian paprika and caraway seeds will make this even more sweet and smoky
- Choose beef chuck or larger cuts instead of ground beef for more of a stew
This is a meal your whole family really will love. This is real people food. Yes, I love a really fancy meal on occasion but more than anything I just love the classics.
Enjoy!
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Goulash Soup - Beef and Tomato Macaroni Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/4 cups chopped yellow onion (1 small)
- 1 cup chopped carrots (2 medium)
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
- 1 1/2 (14.5 oz) cans petite diced tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh marjoram (or 1 tsp dried)
- 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme (or 3/4 tsp dried)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 1/4 cups (5.6 oz) dry small elbow pasta
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn (optional)
- Fresh chopped parsley and finely grated parmesan cheese , for serving
Instructions
- Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and carrots and saute 3 minutes then add garlic and saute 1 minute longer. Pour mixture onto a plate.
- Heat remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil in pot over medium-high heat, add beef, season with salt and pepper and cook until browned. Drain fat from beef.
- Return sauteed veggies to pot along with beef broth, tomato sauce, tomatoes, Worcestershire, marjoram, thyme, bay leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Add in pasta, cover and reduce heat to medium,. Boil stirring occasionally, until pasta has cooked through, about 15 - 20 minutes. If adding corn, stir in corn during last 3 minutes of cooking.
- Remove bay leaves, serve warm garnished with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese if desired.