Instant Pot Goulash Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Make comforting, hearty Goulash in your Instant Pot! This Instant Pot Goulash recipe could not be easier or more delicious. It cooks perfectly every time and is done in only 30 minutes. Perfect easy dinner any night of the week!

Instant Pot Goulash Recipe (1)

Why This Recipe Works

I truly did not think this comforting Goulash recipe could get any easier or more delicious, but ohhh how wrong I was! This Instant Pot version of American Goulash is AMAZING.

It is done in 30 minutes from start to finish, prep included. The pasta cooks absolutely perfectly and when you remove the lid for that first glimpse, you may get a bit weak in the knees. It is perfection!

The textures and flavors in this recipe work so well together and you truly just can’t find an easier, more comforting meal. This is a great dinner to make for busy week nights and also a perfect recipe for weekend guests or parties.

This one pot meal is an all-purpose comfort food! It is super quick and easy and I promise it’ll become a new family favorite!

Recipe Ingredients

Ground beef – Replace the ground beef with ground pork for even more meaty flavor!

Diced tomatoes– Do not drain the tomatoes before adding to the recipe. Also, consider adding a variety with additional flavors and seasonings/herbs for added flavor.

Tomato sauce – If you have time for it, you will be happy with the boost of flavor that homemade tomato sauce offers.

Water – Replace a portion (or all) of the water in the recipe with beef broth for a more well-rounded flavor experience.

Elbow macaroni – Swap out the elbow macaroni with a different variety of pasta, if desired.

How To Make Instant Pot American Goulash

Step 1

Set Instant Pot to saute setting. Add the ground beef, garlic and onion and cook until meat is browned. Drain the grease from the pot, if needed.

Instant Pot Goulash Recipe (2)

Step 2

Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, water, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt and uncooked elbow macaroni to the pot and stir.

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Place the cover on the pot and set the timer to 4 minutes on high pressure (use the pressure cook setting). It will take the Instant Pot around 15 minutes to build up pressure before it begins cooking.

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Step 3

When cook time is up, do an immediate quick release and wait for the float valve to drop. Remove the cover and serve immediately! Top with shredded cheese just before serving, if you so desire.

Recipe Notes

  • Add 2 bay leaves to the pot before cooking for extra flavor.
  • Add a chopped bell pepper to the onion mixture for added texture and flavor. Red, yellow, orange or green peppers would all taste great.
  • This might sound weird, but I recently had a friend tell me that she added 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to this recipe and that it was super yummy.

Make Goulash in a Slow Cooker

This slow cooker recipe is a delicious, filling and hearty meal that is super easy to prepare in your crockpot. Requiring mere minutes of prep time and a few simple ingredients, crockpot goulash is the perfect family meal for a busy night!

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Why Does It Take My Instant Pot To Pressurize?

The time leading up to actual cook time may seem long and even confusing (“What is going ON in there?!”), but it’s an important part of the process! The Instant Pot is working on building up the appropriate amount of pressure that it will be cooking the food at.

It handles liquids and solids differently and also fresh and frozen differently, so the time can vary. Most recipes take between 10 and 25 minutes to build up pressure.

The Instant Pot Burn Notice

If you see that dreaded burn notice flash on your Instant Pot, do not fret! Know that your pressure cooker is keeping a good eye on your food. It has sensed that the temperature toward the bottom of the pot is too high and has therefore turned it off temporarily.

This can happen especially with recipes that contain thick sauces like this one because of the heaviness of the contents inside the pot. It can also happen if there is not enough liquid inside the pot.

If you see the burn notice, press CANCEL as soon as possible. Do an immediate quick release and wait for the silver float valve to drop. Transfer the inner pot to a hot pad holder. Scrape any bits of food that may have adhered to the bottom of the pot using a spoon.

If there are no burned bits:

  • Add 1/2 cup of water or beef broth to the recipe to thin out the consistency.
  • Stir the contents of the pot thoroughly and resume cooking.

If you see burned pieces in the mixture:

  • Pour the contents into a saucepan and clean out the pot using soap and water, making sure any charred pieces of food are removed from the bottom of the pan. Remove visible pieces of burnt food and pour it back into the pot.
  • Stir the contents of the pot thoroughly and resume cooking.
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FAQ About Goulash

What to serve with goulash?

The great thing about Goulash is that it’s a one-pot meal. You’ve got pasta, meat and veggies all wrapped into one easy meal. If you’re looking for something extra to serve alongside this comfort food favorite, consider any of the following:
A delicious chopped salad complements any meal perfectly! You can’t go wrong with garlic bread! Any side of vegetables would go great with this meal. Consider steamed broccoli or cauliflower or sauteed zucchini or mushrooms. Asparagus and Brussels sprouts would be great, too! Add a giant heaping spoonful of goulash over a baked potato. Roasted or grilled tomatoes would taste amazing with this dish and would complement the tomatoes in the recipe even more. Or go the sandwich route and make a batch of delicious hot ham and cheese sandwiches.

How long will goulash last in the fridge?

Cooked and cooled goulash, when stored in an airtight container, will last in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can goulash be frozen?

Goulashfreezes fairly well, with the pasta losing some of its firmness after it has been thawed. When preparing a big batch ofgoulashtofreeze, consider cooking the pasta separately and adding it to the recipe just before serving.

Are goulash and spaghetti the same?

Goulash and spaghetticontain similar ingredients. For spaghetti, the pasta and sauce are cooked separately and combined just before serving. Goulash is typically made in a single pot.

Best Recipes To Make In An Instant Pot

The list of recipes you can make in an Instant Pot is endless! It can act as a slow cooker, saute pan, steamer, rice maker, yogurt maker and pressure cooker. It can cook soup, chili, pasta, meat, potatoes, veggies, cake, beans and so much more. Here are a few of my favorite Instant Pot recipes:

  • Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
  • Chili
  • Instant Pot Ham
  • Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • Lasagna
  • Instant Pot Cake

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Instant Pot Goulash Recipe (7)

Instant Pot Goulash Recipe

This delicious Instant Pot Goulash recipe cooks perfectly every time and it is done in only 30 minutes! Add to your dinner rotation!

4.91 from 30 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 453kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 30 oz diced tomatoes undrained
  • 30 oz tomato sauce
  • 3 cups water or beef broth
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tsp seasoned salt
  • 16 oz elbow macaroni
  • 1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded, for topping

Instructions

  • Set Instant Pot to saute. Add the ground beef, garlic and onion and cook until meat is no longer pink; drain, if needed.

  • Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt and elbow macaroni to the pot and mix well.

  • Place the cover on the pot and set timer to 4 minutes on high pressure (pressure cook setting). It will take the IP around 17 minutes to build up pressure before it begins cooking.

  • When cooking is done, do an immediate quick release and wait for the float valve to drop. Remove cover and serve immediately. Top with shredded cheese, if desired.

Notes

  • Add 2 bay leaves to the pot before cooking for extra flavor.
  • Add a chopped bell pepper to the onion mixture for added texture and flavor. Red, yellow, orange or green peppers would all taste great.
  • This might sound weird, but I recently had a friend tell me that she added 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to this recipe and that it was super yummy.

Nutrition

Calories: 453kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 712mg | Potassium: 423mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 46IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 3mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

Instant Pot Goulash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook goulash in a pressure cooker? ›

Adjust to pressure-cook on high for 25 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes; quick-release any remaining pressure. Select saute setting and adjust for medium heat; bring liquid to a boil. Cook until sauce reaches desired thickness, about 20 minutes.

What's the difference between Hungarian goulash and American Goulash? ›

Hungarian Goulash is a thick meat and vegetable stew with a broth that's heavily seasoned with paprika, while American Goulash is a quick dish made from ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It also goes by the name of American Chop Suey.

How do you soften goulash meat? ›

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.

How to serve goulash? ›

The best side dishes to serve with American Goulash are crispy green beans, country gravy, mashed sweet potatoes, butternut squash, watermelon cucumber salad, caramelized carrots, Tabasco sauce, corn salsa, grilled asparagus, cornbread, roasted Brussels sprouts, cucumber salad, garlic bread, biscuits, and macaroni ...

What foods should not be cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

Here are six things you should always avoid cooking in a pressure cooker.
  1. Dairy products. Foods containing dairy, like milk, cream, or yogurt, should not be pressure-cooked. ...
  2. Fried foods. Cooking fried foods is a strict no no, when it comes to pressure cookers. ...
  3. Quick cooking vegetables. ...
  4. Cakes and bakes. ...
  5. Eggs in the shell.
Jul 23, 2023

Can you use stock instead of water in pressure cooker? ›

Sure you can. And you won't need to add salt. Personally I use chicken stock for for several things most people would use water.

What is goulash called in the South? ›

American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, American Chop Suey, or even Beef-a-Roni, is an American comfort-food dish popular in the Midwest and South.

What is German goulash made of? ›

This German Goulash is what the Swabians in Germany call “Hungarian Goulash”. Ha! A juicy and tender beef stew made with paprika, peppers, and a red wine sauce. Originally goulash (gulyás) is from Hungary but over the centuries this traditional stew obviously traveled into different cuisines, including German cuisine.

What is true goulash made of? ›

The classic “kettle goulash” is prepared by frying cubes of beef or mutton with onions in lard. Garlic, caraway seeds, tomatoes, green peppers, and potatoes complete the stew. Székely gulyás, another Hungarian specialty, is a stew of pork and sauerkraut flavoured with tomatoes, onions, caraway seeds, and sour cream.

What are the two types of goulash? ›

There are two kinds of goulash: Hungarian goulash, which calls for the slow-simmered beef to be served alongside egg noodles, and American goulash, which pulls in ground beef and cooks the noodles in the pot alongside the sauce.

What can I use to thicken goulash? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

What do you eat with goulash? ›

What to Serve with Goulash [10 Side Dish Ideas]
  • Meat. • 1 Cheese & bacon scones.
  • Produce. • 1 Brussels sprouts. • 1 Garlic broccoli. ...
  • Pasta & grains. • 1 Spätzle dumplings.
  • Bread & baked goods. • 1 Bread, Crusty. • 1 Hungarian potato pancakes.
  • Frozen. • 1 Rice pilaf.
  • Deli. • 1 Garden salad, Green. • 1 Hungarian cucumber salad.

Do you eat the bread in goulash? ›

Real goulash has no tomato paste or beans. Eat with a slice of rustic bread. Dip bread in sauce and clean the plate with the bread at the end.

Do you eat goulash in a bowl? ›

Also, it's not typically served over mash like stews, it's served in bowls like soup.

What is Slumgullion made of? ›

Slumgullion, also known as American Goulash, is a deliciously easy dinner of ground beef simmered in a tomato sauce all day, then elbow macaroni added in at the end. The macaroni is cooked IN the sauce at the end, making this a one-pot dish the whole family will love!

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook stew? ›

Taste: For overall taste, the pressure cooker was the hands-down winner. Beef, carrots, and potatoes all retained their rich flavors.

Can you cook everything in a pressure cooker? ›

You can use a pressure cooker to brown, boil, steam, poach, steam roast, braise, stew, or roast food. Nowadays, you can even bake in your pressure cooker! Many people who are using electric pressure cookers like Instant Pot Pressure Cooker are even making cheesecakes and homemade yogurt.

Will tough beef soften in pressure cooker? ›

Pressure cooking, like slow cooking, will tenderize tough cuts of meat like beef brisket, beef chuck, pork shoulder and lots of other cheaper, tougher cuts. Pressure cooking (or slow cooking) is not the best approach for cooking expensive, tender steaks or rib roasts.

Can you cook anything in a pressure cooker? ›

It also allows you to buy less-expensive cuts of meat (the tough stuff) and tenderize it quickly. Just about anything! I use mine a lot for meats, potatoes, and stews. You can also cook desserts and sweets, like sweetened condensed milk, flan, and cheesecake.

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