Beef goulash is a cozy, rustic stew filled with chunks of tender beef, savory vegetables, and fragrant spices such as paprika, ground caraway seeds and bay leaf. It is one of my family's favorite cold weather comfort foods, and absolutely delicious served over egg noodles or mashed potatoes!
Beef Goulash, an Eastern European Family Favorite
Growing up in a household with two Slovak parents, I had the pleasure of enjoying a lot of delicious and comforting Eastern European meals.
In the cold of winter, one of my family's favorite meals to prepare was a Hungarian-inspired beef goulash, a stew-like dish filled with tender chunks of beef and veggies, all simmered for an extended period of time in a rich sauce infused with a hint of aromatic caraway seeds, paprika and bay leaf.
My mom would most often prepare little homemade dumplings, similar to spaetzle, or even mashed potatoes, and we would ladle the beef goulash over top, allowing the copious sauce to glide over every nook and cranny.
Talk about a super cozy and warming meal!
These days, I often prepare homemade beef goulash for my own loved ones in the style that my parents prepared it, even making the tiny homemade spaetzle from scratch if I have a bit of extra time. Or, to keep things simple, I like to use tender, extra-wide egg noodles, as I do here with this version.
Beef goulash is one of those rustic and cozy meals that we thoroughly appreciate and take lots of comfort in when the nights are chilly, and I thought I'd share this Eastern European family favorite of ours here with you, so that you too, could to find some comfort in it.
How to Make Beef Goulash That’s Rich and Flavorful
When it comes to a beef goulash recipe, it's all about rustic simplicity with lots of rich flavor.
While there is a generous amount of onions in this recipe, along with some carrots and some diced tomato (mainly for color and for a bit a added texture), the beef is meant to be the star of the show.
The nice thing about my recipe for goulash is that it doesn't require an expensive cut of beef. I use a slightly tougher grass-fed beef chuck roast, cut into medium-size chunks.
The reason I choose the chuck roast over traditional beef stew meat (the pre-packaged kind) is because of the collagen and marbling found in it, excellent for cooking to delicious perfection over a longer period.
That extended cooking time, needed for this goulash recipe, will allow the meat to become flavorful and tender.
As for the aromatics, there's the onions along with lots of garlic, a good dash of ground caraway seeds, paprika (not the hot paprika, but the more sweet and mild “Hungarian” variety), a couple of bay leaves, some diced carrots, and a few roughly chopped, whole tomatoes from a can.
Here's my beef goulash recipe at a glance: (or just jump to the full recipe further down...)
- First, I season my beef with salt and pepper, then toss it with a bit of flour to coat; I then add it to my hot pan or pot, sear it off until browned, and remove it when done.
- Next, the onions and carrots go into the same pot I used for the beef, and I saute those until they become softened and translucent; I then add in the seasonings along with the garlic and the tomato.
- At this point I return the browned beef to the pot, add in some beef stock or broth; and then, everything is gently simmered until the beef is tender and the sauce slightly thickened, about 2 to 2 ½ hours.
- I garnish the beef goulash with parsley, and serve over egg noodles, or even mashed potatoes.
Recipe
Beef Goulash
by Ingrid Beer
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Hungarian
Yield: Serves 6
Nutrition Info: 613 calories
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total time: 2 hours, 50 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ pounds beef chuck roast, cut into medium-size chunks
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 3 tablespoons of flour, divided use
- Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 small onions, chopped
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 3 tablespoons sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground caraway seeds
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
- 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups beef stock/broth
- 4 whole, peeled San Marzano-style tomatoes (from can), roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh parsley
- Egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or favorite side to serve alongside
- Place the chunks of the beef into a large bowl, and season with a couple of generous pinches of salt and black pepper; sprinkle over 2 tablespoons of the flour, and toss to coat.
- Place a large braising pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and drizzle in about 3 tablespoon of the olive oil; once hot, add in about half of the beef (work in 2-3 batches), and brown on all sides for about 4-5 minutes; remove the meat from the pan and set aside.
- To the same pan, add in 2 more tablespoons of olive oil along with the butter, and once melted, add in the onions and carrots, and saute for about 2-3 minutes until softened; then, add in the paprika, the ground caraway seeds and the bay leaves, and stir to combine.
- Next, add in the garlic, and once aromatic, stir in the tomato paste to incorporate; sprinkle in the remaining 1 tablespoon of flour and stir to combine, then stir in the beef stock/broth, followed by the chopped tomatoes.
- Return the browned beef back into the pan, stir to combine, and bring everything to a vigorous simmer; then, reduce the heat to medium-low or low, cover partly with a lid so that some steam can escape, and cook until the beef is tender, about 2 – 2 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.
- Finish the beef goulash by stirring in the chopped parsley, and serve with egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or your favorite side.
Tips & Tidbits for my Beef Goulash:
- Beef chuck for tender, succulent results: While pre-packaged beef stew meat can be used, I recommend using beef chuck cut into medium-size chunks. It's a terrific cut of beef to use for extended cooking, as it contains more collagen and will remain more tender and succulent, rather than becoming dry.
- Ground caraway seeds: I like to use freshly ground caraway seeds in my beef goulash, and you can achieve this by using a spice grinder or even a mortar and pestle. If you prefer to use whole caraway seeds, which is also an option, use a little less, about ¼ teaspoon rather than the ½ teaspoon of the ground called for in this recipe.
- Hungarian or sweet paprika: I use traditional, mild Hungarian paprika in this recipe, and you can typically find it in a little red box, in the spice section of the market. Or, if you can't find one labeled “Hungarian”, simply use regular “sweet” paprika. (Just make sure not to choose hot or spicy paprika.)
- Time is your friend with beef goulash: To ensure tender and delicious beef and a flavorful sauce, you'll need to treat beef goulash like a braise and allow for about 2 to 2 ½ hours of simmering. Check the beef after 2 hours, and if tender and succulent, it's done.
- Serve with egg noodles or perhaps mashed potatoes: If you can find extra-wide egg noodles, then opt for those. Or, you can also prepare these best basic mashed potatoes—another super cozy recipe!
Hungry for more cozy stews and braises? Check out these Braised Chicken Thighs, this Hungarian Red Potato Goulash, or this Philly Cheesesteak Stew!
Kim S
This looks delicious! I would like to try making it. I was wondering if there would be a good substitute for the caraway?
The Cozy Apron
Hi Kim, there really isn't a good sub for caraway—if you can't find it, or prefer not to use it, simply leave it out without problem. 😉
Bettie
Fennel works well
Ted Penner
Can I use smoked paprika?
The Cozy Apron
Hi Ted, absolutely! You will definitely have more of a smoky flavor if you do, and if you prefer this, it'll be a terrific substitution.
Hope you enjoy the recipe, and happy cooking!
Anika
This looks right up my alley! Any tips for doing this in an instant pot?
The Cozy Apron
Hi Anika, since I don't use an instant pot, I'm never very confident about advising how to prep one of my recipes in one...but I'd say cook this the same way you'd cook something that required longer cooking.
Everything can go in, and perhaps leave it at a setting where it can gently simmer all day if that's what you're looking to do (while you're at work), and it should be fine. As you probably noticed in the recipe, it takes a while for the meat to become tender even using stovetop method, so this would be just fine if you cooked for a long time.
Hope you enjoy, whichever method you choose!
Anika
Thank you. I chickened out and prepared on the stove:) I added whole crimini mushrooms, doubled carrots, used fresh tomatoes, and after a 2 hour simmer...it turned out perfection! Flavors were full and amazing. I worry the instant pot wouldn’t be able to replicate the texture and thickness... Thanks for an amazing recipe!
The Cozy Apron
That's wonderful, Anika! Thanks so much for letting me know—glad you enjoyed!
Andra
This is a fantastic recipe. Thank you. We loved the flavors.
The Cozy Apron
Hi Andra, thanks so much—so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Aric
Found your recipe last week and so far I've made it for my fiancée and I twice. Absolutely love this recipe.
The Cozy Apron
Ah, music to my ears, Aric! I'm very glad to read you've enjoyed it twice in the past week. That's a good sign! 😉
Thanks so much for taking some time to stop by and share your experience with me. Happy cooking to you, and may you and your fiancée continue to be comforted by the recipe throughout the upcoming cold season!
Ani
Is this recipe freezer friendly?
The Cozy Apron
Hi Ani, absolutely—feel free to freeze it! And once you're ready to enjoy again, please allow for it to thaw in your fridge for a couple of days before more fully reheating.
May you enjoy it!
Tim O'Halloran
Can i finish cooking this in the oven at low temp?
The Cozy Apron
Hi Tim, absolutely! If you'd prefer to start stovetop and then braise this dish in the oven, feel free.
I'd set the oven temp to 325°, and allow for about 2 to 2-1/2 hours to gently braise, until tender. Hope you enjoy!
Carol
Can I prepare this on stove top and then pour into crockpot?
The Cozy Apron
Hi Carol, I don't see why not! Hope you enjoy the recipe. 🙂
RJ
Can you leave it in the fridge for a few days prior to serving? Does it freeze well?
The Cozy Apron
Hi RJ, you can absolutely prepare ahead, and keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. The flavors will actually deepen, and meld even more. As far as freezing, yes, this should be fine. Just allow to thaw in the fridge a day or two ahead of when you'd like to serve, then gently reheat.
Hope you enjoy!
Bill M
Hi Ingrid, this sounds delicious. Do you think beef shanks would work for this recipe?
The Cozy Apron
Hi Bill, absolutely! Beef shanks will have a slightly different texture than the chuck roast (they "shred" a bit more), and perhaps have a good amount more fat. You may need to skim some of that off after cooking. But I think they should make for a super cozy version.
Happy cooking, Bill!
Bill M
Thanks! Great suggestions
The Cozy Apron
My pleasure Bill!
Caitlin and Donovan
My partner and I tried the recipe and we absolutely loved it . It came out so rich and creamy and tasted so homey. It also gave us an evening of spending time together and cooking this amazing dish.
Thank you for sharing the recipe.
The Cozy Apron
Hi Caitlin and Donovan, thanks so much for sharing your experience with this recipe. I am so touched you both enjoyed the goulash so much, and my heart is extra full to know that the two of you shared an experience together preparing the dish, and enjoyed time as a couple. This is the ultimate in coziness, and what home cooking is really all about...ideally.
I hope the two of you find many more recipes on the site to prepare and enjoy together. Happy cooking Caitlin and Donovan! 🙂
KQ
I agree, it is a 5 star recipe. I made this for my polish father and he loved it!! My grandmother and mother always put diced potatoes in the recipe so I did and added extra tomatoes.
The Cozy Apron
Hi KQ, so glad to read this was a 5 star recipe for you! Very touched that your Polish father enjoyed the recipe. I love that you added diced potatoes because that is your family tradition, as well as extra tomatoes.
Happy cooking to you! 🙂
SM
I added whole baby bella mushrooms at the start (keeping in mind that mushrooms give up a LOT of liquid as they cook) and then just before serving, I stirred in half a cup of sour cream. Served over egg noodles. There were no leftovers!
The Cozy Apron
Hi SM, thanks for sharing! Glad you made the recipe a bit more to your own taste (your additions sound de-lish!), and that you enjoyed it so much. Happy cooking to you!
Nadra
Can you just use regular canned tomatoes? Like a cup? I have a giant can of the San Mariano ones but I don't want to waste the rest.
The Cozy Apron
Hi Nadra, please use whatever you have on hand, that is convenient for you. The canned should be just fine!