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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.
Martha..my son loved this…I did too but unfortunately my points are like 12 because I used no yolk egg noodles 85 grams and used a couple left over turkey burgers ,,…uggh, the one beef I have with weight watchers is some of the point assignments do not line up with the calorie count. for instance 85 grams of noodles is only 310 calories for the whole batch…so if I half them the calorie count in 155 which is not bad… but the point given is 9 just the noodles..i added not sugar just 1/2 can soup…a table spoon of some left over pasta sauce and nutmeg with onion and bell pepper.. the points don’t seem accurate any suggestions??
Glad you son like it! I’m not really understanding your points questions. I use the WW Recipe Builder to calculate the points on all my recipes. Points may be different depending on the kinds and brands of ingredients you use. Hope this helps. ~Martha
Made this for hubby and me was fantastic we’re empty nesters so it’ll make for us a couple meals
Hi Martha – looks like a great recipe. Could tomato sauce be substituted for the tomato soup?
Thanks
Hi Deb, substituting tomato sauce will work fine though it will change the flavor a bit. ~Martha
Enjoy more of this type of food.
This recipe was given to me when staying with a close school friend after I told her that I preferred her version to the one my Mom always made! After standing at her elbow and watching her make it, I realized there was only one difference in the ingredients she used–but that one ingredient made a world of difference in the taste and texture of the dish. That one ingredient was the tomato soup! I brought my family up on my favorite dishes, and continue to make it using the exact ingredients, some 65 years later! It’s been a standard.
Wow, was my husband a happy camper. This is just the same as his mothers version. He loved it and couldn’t get enough of it. Good thing that it makes a lot, it will feed his cravings for awhile to come, thank you. Quick, easy to throw together with ingredients often found in the pantry. BK
Glad you liked it. It was on my menu this week too.
Thank you for sharing your recipe. My husband enjoyed it very much, it was comforting and satisfying. It reminded him of the way his mother made this dish. Thanks for the memories. BK
Recipe was easy to follow and delicious! I wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you : )
So happy to hear it, Laura. Thanks for taking the time to let us know. ~Martha
Just like mom’s used to be.
To make it humane/plant based/vegan, just substitute the ground beef, for plant based ground. Then most people, on most diets, (vegetarian, vegan, traditional, etc.) could eat it, as most diets include plants. However, if someone is avoiding soy, then another plant based ground could be used, such as one made with pea protein, or, this might work, with brown lentils substituted, for the protein.
Thanks for the suggestion, Vegan Cook! ~Martha