American Goulash Recipe Instant Pot

What is American Goulash? Is American chop suey and goulash the same thing?

American Goulash is a tomato, ground meat and macaroni dish, sometimes also known as American Chop Suey.

This recipe is my version of an American-style Goulash that is made with pasta, ground meat and tomato sauce. The sauce is seasoned with aromatics, soy sauce, paprika and Italian herbs. Some popular garnishes include chopped parsley and shredded cheese.

Hungarian Goulash vs. American Goulash

Hungarian Goulash is a stew made with beef and vegetables that is seasoned with paprika and other herbs. It is one of the most popular dishes in Hungary. I visited Budapest a few years ago and tasted two amazing versions of Hungarian Goulash.
One was made like a beef stew, with vegetables and potatoes and seasoned with paprika along with other spices. The restaurant served it with a rustic chewy bread to soak up the delicious stew. It was the most comforting meal I had on that trip.
The second version, was a similar beef stew, but it was served with fresh egg noodles called ‘Spaetzle’. Super tasty as well! The big difference that sets the two styles apart is that Hungarian Goulash is made with beef stew-meat, and adding noodles is optional.
Whereas, American Goulash is made with ground meat and elbow macaroni, more like a meat and pasta dish.

Customize this Simple Goulash Recipe

It is very easy to customize this Goulash to your taste. Here are some changes you can make:

Ground meat: I use ground turkey in this recipe, because it is lean, plus I don’t have to drain out the fat. But, you can use ground beef for an easy Beef Goulash, or ground chicken as well.Vegetables: I like using yellow or red bell pepper in this recipe because they add a subtle sweet taste. You can use green bell pepper if you like, or skip it. Sliced celery or mushrooms can be added to this dish as well.Also, if you have picky little vegetable-eaters at home, you can chop up some carrots in a food processor and add to this recipe. Cheese: I add freshly grated parmesan cheese in the end, but you can add any kind of shredded cheese you have on hand.Broth: I prefer to use vegetable broth for this recipe as it adds more depth of flavor. Alternatively, you can use chicken broth. Also, if you like your Goulash more soupy, add another cup of broth to this recipe. Pasta: You can add a different cut of pasta, like penne, shells, ditalini etc., to this recipe and adjust the cook time. Here is how I calculate the cooking time:

How to Cook Pasta in Instant Pot

Since different pasta shapes require different cook times, here is what works for me: I cut the suggested cook time on the box in half, and for a more el dente texture, I subtract 1 minute from that. So, if a box suggests the cook time as 10-11 minutes, I cook it for 5 minutes for regular, or 4 minutes for el dente texture in the Instant Pot (10/2=5; 5-1=4).

Ingredients

This paste comes together with some basic ingredients that are easily available at the local grocery stores. Let’s discuss some key ingredients used in this dish.

Ground Meat: Beef, turkey or chicken, all work great in this recipe.Broth: I like to use vegetable broth for a more well rounded flavor, but chicken stock also works. You can skip broth and add water too. Just adjust the seasoning after cooking.Marinara sauce: Store-bought jar of your favorite brand works like a charm here. My favorite one of the ’tomato basil marinara’ by Trader Joe’s.Pasta: I prefer to use whole-wheat elbow macaroni for some added fiber and whole-grain goodness, but feel free to make this with regular macaroni, ditalini or other short cut paste shape.

How to Make Instant Pot Goulash

I prefer to make Goulash in my Instant Pot because I don’t have to baby-sit the pot while it is cooking. Using a smart cooker makes it an easy one-pot dish that even my kids can put together.
Simply saute aromatics, add pasta, sauce and broth and pressure cook. Release pressure, add cheese and serve! That simple! Here is how I make it:

Saute: Turn on Instant Pot on Saute (high). When display reads ‘hot’, add oil, onion, garlic, pepper and saute for 30 seconds. Add ground meat, break it up with a spoon and saute for 2 minutes. Pressure Cook: Add all spices, soy sauce, marinara sauce and broth. Add elbow macaroni and stir. Close lid and pressure cook on Manual/Pressure Cook for 3 minutes. (Check notes for pasta cooking times in Instant Pot)Release Pressure: Once the cooking is done, you can release pressure immediately, or after 5 minutes. If you are multiplying this recipe, I recommend waiting for 5 mins, as that prevents a mess-free release. You can release pressure by turning the valve to ‘Venting ’ position in DUO models, or , press down the pressure valve in ULTRA models.Garnish and Enjoy: Open the lid after the pin drops. Serve warm and garnish with your favorite shredded cheese and enjoy!

How to Avoid a Quick Pressure Release in this Recipe- Pro-Tip for Kids/Teens

My teen kids put this dish together without any help from me. The only part that they are not excited about is the Quick Pressure Release. So, here is what you can do to avoid that: Reduce the pressure cooking time to 2 minutes (instead of 3 mins), and let the pressure release naturally for 10 mins (NPR 10).
In this time, most of the pressure would have released naturally. So when you do a quick release at this point, it is not as forceful and long.
BTW, this tip can be used by adults as well! It comes in handy if you have a little baby sleeping or a pet that gets scared of the notorious QR 🙂

How to Make Vegetarian Goulash

To make Vegetarian Goulash using this recipe, simply skip the ground meat and you’re good to go. Everything else remains the same!

Recipe Tips for American Goulash

Pasta Cooking Times in Instant Pot: I divide the lower number in the suggested cook time on the box in half, and for an el dente pasta, I subtract 1 minute from that. So, if a box suggests the cook time as 10-11 minutes, I cook it for 4 minutes in the Instant Pot (10/2=5; 5-1=4).How to avoid QR: Reduce the pressure cooking time to 2 minutes, and let the pressure release naturally for 10 mins (NPR 10 mins). In that time, most of the pressure has released naturally and if you do a quick release at this point, it won’t be that impactful and long.Estimated Time includes roughly 10 mins for pressure build-up. Cook time = Time to set for pressure cooking.This recipe has been tested in a 6qt Instant Pot. If making this in an 8Qt size, adjust the water quantity to meet the minimum requirement.This recipe can be easily doubled in a 6qt and 8qt pressure cooker.Soy sauce may seem like an untraditional ingredient, but it adds an element of umami to this dish. It gives this dish an intense ’low-and-slow’ cooked taste. DO try it and you’ll see for yourself.