Cheesy Baked Goulash

Cheesy Baked Goulash

If you’re craving a cozy, family-friendly dinner that’s easy to make and loaded with cheesy, tomatoey goodness, this Cheesy Baked Goulash is exactly the kind of recipe to keep in your back pocket. It’s made with ground beef, elbow macaroni, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, garlic, herbs, cheddar, and mozzarella, then baked until everything is hot and bubbly.

This is classic American comfort food—simple, hearty, budget-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights. It has the familiar flavors of old fashioned goulash, but the cheesy baked finish gives it a little something extra.

If your family loves pasta dishes, Hamburger Helper-style dinners, chili mac, or cheesy casseroles, this American goulash casserole is likely to become a favorite recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Baked Goulash

There’s a lot to love about this easy goulash recipe:

• Made with simple grocery-store ingredients
• Uses just 1 pound ground beef
• Hearty enough to feed a crowd
• Perfect for busy weeknights
• Cheesy, tomatoey, and comforting
• Great for leftovers
• Easy to customize
• Ready in about 45 minutes

It’s also a good choice when you need a weeknight dinner that feels familiar and filling without requiring complicated prep.

What Is American Goulash?

American goulash is very different from Hungarian goulash.

Traditional Hungarian goulash is a beef stew flavored heavily with paprika and often made with chunks of meat, vegetables, and broth. The American version is more like a beef-and-macaroni pasta dish made with ground meat, tomato sauce, and seasonings.

You may also hear American goulash called:

• American chop suey
• Beef goulash
• Old fashioned goulash
• Hamburger goulash
• Macaroni goulash

This baked version goes one step further by adding cheddar cheese to the beef mixture and mozzarella cheese on top for plenty of melty goodness.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Beef and Pasta

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni pasta

Sauce

• 15 ounces canned tomato sauce
• 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes
• ⅔ cup chopped onion
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce

Cheese

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Why Add Soy Sauce?

A small amount of soy sauce may sound unusual in an American goulash recipe, but it adds savory depth without making the dish taste like soy sauce.

It enhances the beef and tomato flavors and gives the sauce a little more complexity.

If you don’t want to use soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce would also work well.

Tools for this recipe

Baking Dish Set

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Frying Pan

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Cheese Grater

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How to Make Cheesy Baked Goulash

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish and set it aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.

Step 2: Brown the Beef and Onion

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the ground beef and chopped onion.

Season with black pepper.

Cook until the beef is browned and the onion becomes soft and translucent.

Use a wooden spoon to break the ground beef into small crumbles as it cooks.

If you’re using lean ground beef, there may not be much excess fat. If needed, drain the grease before moving on.

Step 3: Add the Garlic

During the last minute of cooking, add the minced garlic.

Stir and cook until fragrant.

Adding it toward the end helps keep the garlic from burning.

Step 4: Cook the Macaroni

Once the pot of water is boiling, add the dry elbow macaroni pasta.

Cook it until it is just shy of al dente.

You don’t want the pasta fully soft because it will finish cooking in the oven.

Drain the cooked macaroni and set it aside.

Step 5: Make the Tomato Beef Sauce

Add the following to the skillet with the beef:

• Tomato sauce
• Diced tomatoes
• Soy sauce
• Sugar
• Dried basil
• Dried oregano
• Dried parsley

Give everything a good stir.

Taste and season with additional salt and black pepper if needed.

The result should be a rich tomato sauce filled with savory flavors.

Step 6: Add the Cheddar

Stir in the cheddar cheese.

Mix until it melts into the beef and tomato mixture.

This step gives the sauce a richer, creamier texture and is what really separates this baked version from a more traditional stovetop goulash.

Step 7: Add the Pasta

Stir the cooked macaroni into the skillet.

Make sure all of the noodles are coated in the sauce.

If the mixture looks a little thick, you can add a small splash of water, tomato juice, beef broth, or beef stock.

Step 8: Transfer to the Casserole Dish

Pour the goulash mixture into the prepared casserole dish.

Spread it into an even layer.

Top with the shredded mozzarella cheese.

Step 9: Bake

Place the dish into the preheated oven.

Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the mozzarella is fully melted.

If you want the cheese on top a little more golden, broil for a minute or two at the end, keeping a close eye on it.

Step 10: Let It Rest

Let the goulash cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

That short resting time allows the sauce to settle and makes it easier to spoon onto plates.

What Makes This Different From Regular Goulash?

Traditional American goulash is usually made entirely on the stove top.

This recipe starts in a skillet, then moves to the oven for a baked finish.

That final step:

• Melts the mozzarella on top
• Helps the sauce settle into the macaroni
• Gives you more of a casserole-style texture
• Creates that cheesy baked pasta feel

It’s almost like American goulash meets a cheesy pasta bake.

Tips for the Best Cheesy Baked Goulash

Don’t Overcook the Pasta

This is one of the most important steps.

Cook the macaroni until almost al dente because it continues cooking in the oven.

Drain Excess Fat

Too much grease from the beef can make the casserole heavy.

Season the Sauce Well

Ground beef, tomatoes, and pasta need enough salt and herbs to taste balanced.

Don’t Skip the Sugar

That teaspoon of sugar helps soften the acidity of the tomatoes without making the sauce sweet.

Use Freshly Shredded Cheese

Freshly shredded cheddar and mozzarella melt more smoothly than many packaged varieties.

Can I Add Tomato Paste?

Yes.

If you want even more depth of flavor, add 1–2 tablespoons of tomato paste after browning the beef and onion.

Cook the tomato paste for about a minute before adding the rest of the sauce ingredients.

This gives the tomato base a deeper, richer flavor.

Can I Add Bell Peppers?

Absolutely.

Diced bell peppers, especially red bell pepper, are a great addition.

Add them with the onion and cook until softened.

You could also add:

• Mushrooms
• Green peppers
• Zucchini
• Spinach

Can I Use Ground Turkey?

Yes.

Ground turkey works well if you want a lighter version.

You may want to add a little olive oil when browning the meat because turkey is usually leaner than beef.

Can I Use Another Kind of Pasta?

Definitely.

Elbow macaroni gives the dish that classic old-fashioned goulash look, but other pasta shapes work too.

Try:

• Small shells
• Rotini
• Penne
• Cavatappi
• Bowties
• Egg noodles

Just cook the pasta slightly under al dente before baking.

Easy Variations

Chili Mac Style

Add chili powder and a pinch of cumin for more of a chili mac flavor.

Creamier Goulash

Stir in a little cream cheese with the cheddar.

Extra Cheesy Goulash

Add Parmesan cheese to the sauce or sprinkle it over the top.

Spicy Goulash

Add red pepper flakes, jalapeños, or hot sauce.

Garlic-Heavy Goulash

Add a little garlic powder in addition to the minced garlic.

What to Serve With Cheesy Baked Goulash

This is a hearty main course, so you don’t need much alongside it.

Try:

• Garlic bread
• Dinner rolls
• Green salad
• Green beans
• Roasted broccoli
• Caesar salad

Garlic bread is probably my favorite because it’s perfect for scooping up the extra sauce.

More Ground Beef and Pasta Recipes From Krystel’s Cooking

If you love this Cheesy Baked Goulash, these recipes from Krystel’s Cooking are especially relevant.

Easy Beef Noodle Casserole

This is probably the closest match. It combines ground beef, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, noodles, and cheddar cheese in an easy baked casserole that’s also perfect for busy weeknights.

Stovetop Creamy Ground Beef Pasta

If you want another easy ground beef pasta dinner but don’t want to turn on the oven, this one comes together in one pot with ground beef, pasta, diced tomatoes, and a creamy sauce.

Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti

For another baked pasta recipe, this one combines a rich meat sauce with ziti, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan for a cozy family dinner.

Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole

This casserole combines ground beef, diced tomatoes, pasta, Velveeta, and cheddar for another cheesy, family-friendly dinner with plenty of comfort-food flavor.

Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta

If you want to take ground beef and pasta in a completely different direction, this cheesy taco pasta uses ground beef, Rotel, pasta, and melted cheese for a Tex-Mex-inspired weeknight dinner.

Krystel’s Cooking also has a full pasta collection with recipes including Cheesy Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole, Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti, and Stovetop Creamy Ground Beef Pasta.

How to Store Leftovers

Allow the goulash to cool before transferring it to an airtight container.

Store in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

The pasta will continue absorbing some of the sauce as it sits, so the leftovers may be a little thicker the next day.

How to Reheat Cheesy Baked Goulash

Microwave

Heat individual portions until hot.

Add a small splash of water, tomato sauce, or beef broth if the pasta seems dry.

Oven

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and reheat at 350°F until warmed through.

Remove the foil for the last few minutes if you want the cheese to melt and bubble again.

Can You Freeze Goulash?

Yes.

Let the casserole cool completely, then place it in a freezer-safe container.

Freeze for up to about 3 months.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

The pasta may become slightly softer after freezing, but the flavor will still be good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is American goulash the same as Hungarian goulash?

No. Hungarian goulash is traditionally a beef stew seasoned heavily with paprika, while American goulash is a tomato-based pasta dish made with ground beef and macaroni.

Is American chop suey the same as goulash?

In many parts of the United States, especially New England, American chop suey refers to a very similar combination of macaroni, beef, tomatoes, and seasonings.

Can I make this on the stove top only?

Yes. Skip the baking step, add all of the cheese directly to the skillet, and serve once the pasta is tender and everything is hot.

Can I make this ahead?

Yes. Assemble the casserole, cover it, and refrigerate until ready to bake.

You may need to add a little extra baking time because the dish will be cold.

Can I use beef broth?

Yes. If the sauce is too thick, a splash of beef broth or beef stock works well.

Why is my goulash dry?

The pasta may have been overcooked before baking or there may not have been enough sauce. Cook the noodles just shy of al dente and add a splash of liquid if needed before transferring to the casserole dish.

Can I double the recipe?

Absolutely. Use a larger casserole dish or divide it between two dishes.

Final Thoughts

This Cheesy Baked Goulash is the kind of easy, hearty dinner that makes weeknight cooking feel a lot less complicated.

Ground beef, elbow macaroni, tomatoes, herbs, cheddar, and mozzarella come together in one comforting casserole with plenty of savory flavor and cheesy goodness.

Whether you grew up eating old fashioned goulash, American chop suey, or Hamburger Helper-style meals, this baked version has that same nostalgic comfort with an extra layer of cheese on top.

Serve it with garlic bread and a simple salad, and dinner is done.s sure to leave everyone craving for more. Whether you’re hosting a family dinner or entertaining friends, this dish will always impress and satisfy. So, don’t delay any longer; let your inner chef shine and indulge in the cheesy goodness of this irresistible twist on a classic favorite.