Old Fashioned Goulash Recipe

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This old fashioned goulash recipe is the epitome of comfort food. The saucy, rich broth with layers of flavor along with the tender chunks of beef ... Oh. So. Good!

Slow cooking melds the wonderful paprika with all the other ingredients to make this a hearty, nourishing, satisfying meal.

I have had some amazing goulash in my life ... namely the goulash I had in the late 1980's in small-town Austria.

Hence, my quest to re-create that recipe.

I found that the key is paprika and more paprika. And also tender beef and just overall savory goodness ...

Oh, and slow cooking, which is the best way for foods to meld and simmer and mix flavors to create the best recipes that have your family (or guests) licking their chops and praising you endlessly.

Well ... not exactly ... but this is an extremely flavorful goulash that is so simple to make and will have you coming back to it again and again for that easy, delicious recipe you all want for dinner.

I rarely cook the same dish exactly the same way, as I love to experiment, but this old fashioned goulash is so perfect (in my opinion) that I keep making it again and again just as it's written.

What You'll Need

1 tablespoon bacon fat or olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 yellow or green bell pepper, chopped

1 pound beef stew meat, cut in ½-inch pieces

2 Tablespoons paprika

1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed

½ teaspoon salt, more to taste

½ teaspoon ground black pepper, more to taste

1 large carrot, sliced

2 cups beef broth

1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, slightly drained

8 ounces uncooked egg noodles

How to Make

First, you will heat a heavy pan or Dutch oven (my favorite) to medium heat.

Add bacon fat or olive oil, onion, bell pepper, and meat and cook for 5-10 minutes or until meat is browned on all sides.

Next, you will add your paprika, fennel, salt, and black pepper and stir (still cooking on medium heat).

Add carrots, broth, and tomatoes and cover. This you will cook on low-medium heat for 1 hour, checking and stirring occasionally. Serve over hot egg noodles.

What to Serve with Goulash

This old fashioned goulash is a great served over egg noodles or the pasta of your choice. It's also great as a meal all by itself. To make it complete, you can serve it with your favorite side salad and bread.

I recommend my Mediterranean Cucumber Salad and Cheese Toast. Other good suggestions include my Brussels Sprout Salad and Cheddar Biscuits.

Tips

For best flavor, use bacon fat if you have it (instead of other oils).

Cut your meat pieces small for best results. If they're too big they may end up tough in the recipe. Smaller is always better so you get more flavors in each bite and so the meat ends up more tender in the end.

To crush the fennel seeds, simply grind them lightly with a mortar and pestle or crush them with the side of a chef's knife just so they are bruised a bit to release flavor.

Make it tonight, and let me know what you think!

You may also love my Spaghetti Bolognaise recipe or my Broccoli Cheddar Pasta with chicken.

Other Recipes to Try:

Chicken & Bacon Pasta Bake

Corn Potato Chowder (Easy, Hearty & Delicious!)

Baked Mahi Mahi Recipe (Simple & So Flavorful!)

Authentic Jambalaya Recipe (Lots of Spicy Flavors!)

Turkey Ala King (Using Leftover Turkey or Chicken)

London Broil Crock Pot Recipe (with Built-In Gravy)

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