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Today I’m sharing one of the ultimate comfort food classics from my childhood—my mom’s American goulash.
It’s simple, hearty, and made with basic pantry ingredients—the kind of meal that shows up on busy weeknights, in school cafeterias, and at family tables when you just want something warm and satisfying.
This lighter, WW-friendly version stays true to the original, with just a few small tweaks to keep it aligned with your goals—without sacrificing that nostalgic flavor.
Also known as American Chop Suey, this easy one-pot dish combines ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a rich tomato base for a cozy, budget-friendly dinner you’ll come back to again and again.
This has been one of the most popular recipes on Simple Nourished Living for years—and for good reason. Try it and you’ll see why it made the list of our most popular WW recipes of 2025.
Table of Contents
- What is American Goulash?
- Why You’ll Love This Easy American Goulash
- Ingredients
- WW-Friendly Hamburger Macaroni Goulash Calories & Points
- How to Make American Goulash
- Substitutions and Variations
- What to Serve with American Goulash
- What to Do with Leftovers
- Easy American Hamburger Goulash Recipe
- FAQs About American Goulash
- More WW-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love
- Want help with meal planning?
- Want More Easy WW-Friendly Comfort Food Recipes?
What is American Goulash?
American goulash is a quick, one-pot comfort food made with ground beef, macaroni, and a tomato-based sauce.
It’s completely different from traditional Hungarian goulash, which is a slow-simmered stew made with chunks of beef, vegetables, and paprika.
In many parts of the U.S., this dish is also known as American Chop Suey—a nostalgic favorite often served in school cafeterias and home kitchens alike.
Why You’ll Love This Easy American Goulash
- One-pot meal = easy cleanup
- Budget-friendly pantry ingredients
- Ready in about 30 minutes
- Classic comfort food flavor
- WW-friendly with just a few simple tweaks
Ingredients
- Elbow macaroni – Classic, but any small pasta will work
- Olive oil – Or any neutral oil
- Extra-lean ground beef (90%+) – Keeps points lower
- Onion, chopped – Any variety
- Bell pepper, chopped – Green for tradition, others for sweetness
- Condensed tomato soup – The signature nostalgic flavor
- Diced tomatoes – I like petite diced
- Pinch of cinnamon – My mom’s special touch
- Pinch of sugar – Balances acidity
- Salt and pepper – To taste
WW-Friendly Hamburger Macaroni Goulash Calories & Points
I love how recipes like this can easily be adapted to fit the Weight Watchers program without losing what makes them special.
By using extra-lean ground beef and keeping portions in mind, you still get all the comfort and flavor—just a little lighter.
According to my calculations, each serving has about 354 calories and 8 WW Points.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
9 PointsPlus (Old plan)
How to Make American Goulash
- Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet (affiliate link) or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground beef, onion, and bell pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat, until beef is no longer pink and vegetables are softened (about 5–8 minutes). Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato soup, cinnamon, and sugar. Simmer until heated through.
- Add cooked macaroni and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve warm.
Substitutions and Variations
- Change the Protein
Ground turkey, chicken, or even plant-based crumbles work well here. - Switch the Pasta
Try whole wheat, gluten-free, shells, or penne. - Add More Veggies
Mushrooms, zucchini, spinach, corn, or even beans add bulk and nutrition. - Change the Sauce
Tomato sauce or marinara can be used instead of tomato soup for a different flavor. - Spice It Up
Add chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, or red pepper flakes. - Make It Cheesy
Stir in a little shredded cheddar or mozzarella before serving.
What to Serve with American Goulash
Round out your meal with something simple:
- A crisp green salad
- Steamed broccoli or green beans
- Roasted vegetables
- A slice of warm bread (if desired)
What to Do with Leftovers
This is one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave (affiliate link). If it thickens too much, just add a splash of broth or water.
You can also freeze portions for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Leftovers can even be turned into a quick hamburger macaroni soup by adding broth.
If you’ve made this American Beef Goulash, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Easy American Hamburger Goulash
Ingredients
- 2 cups (8 ounces) elbow macaroni (gluten-free if desired) (uncooked)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) tomato soup
- 2 cans (14-ounces each) diced tomatoes
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Pinch of sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain.
- Meanwhile heat oil in a large skillet (affiliate link), or dutch oven, over medium heat. Stir the ground beef, onion, and pepper into the skillet, breaking up the beef into small pieces. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook, stirring often, until the beef is no longer pink and the onion and pepper are soft (5-8 minutes).
- Stir in the tomatoes, tomato soup, cinnamon, and sugar. Simmer until heated thoroughly.
- Stir in the drained macaroni and combine well. (Alternatively, if your skillet isn’t quite big enough, stir everything together in the pasta pan.) Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 9 PointsPlus (Old plan) Substitutions & Variations
- Change the Protein
Ground turkey, chicken, or even plant-based crumbles work well here. - Switch the Pasta
Try whole wheat, gluten-free, shells, or penne. - Add More Veggies
Mushrooms, zucchini, spinach, corn, or even beans add bulk and nutrition. - Change the Sauce
Tomato sauce or marinara can be used instead of tomato soup for a different flavor. - Spice It Up
Add chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, or red pepper flakes. - Make It Cheesy
Stir in a little shredded cheddar or mozzarella before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
FAQs About American Goulash
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! It reheats beautifully and often tastes better the next day.
Can I freeze hamburger goulash?
Absolutely. Store in airtight containers for up to a month.
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Yes—ground turkey is a great lighter option.
Why use tomato soup instead of sauce?
Tomato soup gives this dish its classic creamy, slightly sweet flavor that many of us grew up with.
More WW-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also like some of my other easy, comfort-food favorites:
- Southwestern Hamburger Goulash – a spicier twist on this classic
- Easy Hamburger Macaroni Soup – warm, simple, and satisfying
- Weight Watchers Taco Soup – big flavor with minimal effort
- Lightened-Up Meatloaf – a longtime reader favorite
- One-pot Cheeseburger Pasta – another longtime reader favorite you make in a single skillet
Want help with meal planning?
Here’s a weekly WW Dinner Menu featuring this Classic Hamburger Goulash. (You’ll find this dish featured in several of my Weight Watchers weekly meal plans—a great tool to stay organized and on track.)
Want More Easy WW-Friendly Comfort Food Recipes?
If you love recipes like this Easy American Hamburger Goulash you’ll find even more WW-friendly comfort food favorites in my Ultimate eCookbook Bundle.
It’s packed with simple, family-tested recipes designed to make healthy eating both easier and more enjoyable.
I’m from northern NY. My mother made this often and it was one of my favorite meals. It was the first meal I cooked as an adult. I made it occasionally for my kids but somehow forgot about it in recent years. I now live in Michigan and just had this same dish tonight at a diner (it was in the comfort food section). I googled it to see if other people knew about it because honestly I thought it was something my mother had concocted, lol. I’m going to buy some Campbell’s tomato soup and start making this again.
Can this recipe be converted for use in a slow cooker? I need recipes that are gluten-free, dairy-free, kid-friendly, and can cook on low all day. I know that’s a tall order! And I prefer lower carb, so I could use less macaroni. Thanks in advance!
Hi LDG, I haven’t tried this in the slow cooker so not sure how it would turn out. I’m concerned that the macaroni would become mushy. ~Martha
Michigan here! My mom made this also minus the cinnamon. Apparently in the 40s or 50s Campbells soup published these recipes. Same base also make spanish rice and chili. With the chili you added kidney beans and chili powder. We lived on a farm so we always used a quart of home canned stewed tomatoes.
Delicious. Tastes just like the goulash my Mom used to make.
When do you add the olive oil? Sorry I’m new to cooking!
Hi Amanda, It’s listed in Step 2 of the instructions!
It’s simple to make and taste great.
Very easy and quick. I like the different versions. I used corn in mine.
I also put corn and red kidney beans in mine and it is delicious. I also use tomato soup and tomato juice.
Do you measure the 2 cups of macaroni before you cook it?
Kay, yes the recipe calls for 2 cups of uncooked macaroni that you then cook according to the package directions. Hope this helps. – Martha
I made it exactly as the recipe is printed. I’m from Maine and it reminds me of just exactly what my mother used to cook. Comfort food at its best. Excellent! I give it 5 stars!
Thanks David! So happy to hear from another with connections to Maine! – Martha
growing up in Maine myself, I have had this a million times and still enjoy it. almost the same recipe but I don’t use cinnamon and sugar, I like to put in celery seed and a dash of celery salt.
So great to connect with a fellow friend from Maine!