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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.
How much does this make? How many servings?
Hi Lisa,
The recipe card includes this information. The recipe makes 6 generous 1-cup servings. Hope this helps. ~Martha
Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe with us. I used to make this same recipe for my family a lot of years ago. It always went over really well. It’s a real winner. Again I say thank you.
I made this Goulash and did not have a green pepper on hand. However, it is a great Fall dish and I did add some Worcestershire sauce to give it some more flavor. I will also try the Italian seasoning on my leftover dish. My Mom made this dish when I was growing up in the 50’s.
Each time I see this – I want some.
So many years later, it remains one of my very favorite comfort foods!!
An oldie but goodie!!
I have a recipe that my mother made up during WW2. Hamburger[brown] add all the rest ,black beans, corn, onions, and Franco American Spaghetti O’s and Taco seasoning.. I make my own seasoning. [Found recipe on internet] Mix all together in top with crushed potato chips I use the microwave to finish it off. 5 or 6 minutes on HIGH.
Mom served this at card playing nights to the other guys in my Dad’s flying group. The only difference is I use black beans. Mom used Kidney beans.
Why, and don’t tell me it’s to make money! I know that. Why are there so many ads and detours without consideration of the individual who’s just after the recipe that, you’d like to share? Very disconcerting!
Hi Peter, There’s a “Jump to Recipe” link at the top of every recipe post. Click it and it will take you to the recipe bypassing all the text and advertising. Hope this helps. ~Martha
Made this last night, hubby and I loved it. Used whole wheat macaroni. Will make this again and again. Tku for sharing…
My family absolutely loved this recipe!! I added Italian sausage to it one time of they all loved it as well. Thanks for a great week night meal!!
So happy you and your family liked it!!
you don’t say if the tomato is straight or add water like the can instructions
It’s straight…no water. ~Martha
Hello, Me again. I realized there were more comments and I found my answer on the second page. Draining the cooked hamburger is optional. Thank you again and please disregard my earlier question. Jan, 3/23/23/at about 7:36 hrs.
Hello. Planning to try this. I might add zucchini. I was wondering if I should drain the cooked hamburger….probably a dumb question but I noticed draining wasn’t mentioned. Thank you! Jan