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If you’ve ever tried making goulash and wished it had more flavor and the perfect texture, I promise—this one delivers. With just the right balance of seasoning, a rich, savory sauce, and perfectly tender pasta, this Instant Pot Goulash is a meal everyone will be excited to dig into.
Why you’ll love this Easy American Goulash
I started using an Instant Pot in 2016, when it really became popular in many kitchens. Like many of you, I was curious but not totally convinced it would earn a permanent spot on my counter. But after a bit of experimenting, I quickly saw what the fuss was about. One of the first things I wanted to adapt was my stovetop goulash—already a comfort food staple in our home. After a few rounds of testing, I found the perfect balance to make it pressure-cooker friendly while still tasting like it had been simmering all day.
As a mom and now grandma, I’ve made more meals than I can count, but this is one of those recipes that even the pickiest eaters happily dig into. The beef is hearty, the pasta cooks up perfectly tender, and that savory tomato-based sauce never lets me down. It’s a true kitchen win from start to finish.
What makes this a keeper!
❥ Flavor: Rich, savory, and perfectly seasoned—this goulash has that slow-simmered taste without the wait.
❥Family-Friendly: It’s one of those rare meals that everyone actually gets excited about—no complaints, just clean plates.
❥Quick & Easy: Comes together fast with simple ingredients, and it all cooks in one pot (hello, easy cleanup!).
❥ Great Leftovers: If you’re lucky enough to have some left, the flavors only get better the next day—making lunch just as delicious.
NikkiInstant Pot Goulash Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef – Lean ground beef works best for a hearty, flavorful sauce without too much grease. Just be sure to drain any excess after browning.
- Onion & Garlic – These build a rich, savory base and add tons of flavor. Fresh is best, but they cook down beautifully either way.
- Tomato Sauce & Diced Tomatoes – The perfect combo for a thick, flavorful sauce.
- Beef Broth – Gives the sauce a rich, savory flavor while helping the pasta cook just right.
- Soy Sauce – The secret ingredient that deepens the flavor and makes everything taste even better.
- Italian Seasoning – A simple blend of herbs that brings classic goulash flavor to the dish.
- Elbow Macaroni – Holds up perfectly in the sauce and soaks in all that flavor.
- Bay Leaves – Add a subtle depth of flavor, but don’t forget to pull them out before serving!
- Salt & Pepper – A little goes a long way in balancing and bringing out all the flavors.
How to Make Instant Pot Goulash
Step 1: Sauté the beef and aromatics
Set your 6-quart Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Once it’s hot, add the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Season with a little salt and pepper. Cook until the beef is browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
When it’s fully cooked through, drain any excess fat to keep the sauce from being greasy.
Step 2. Add the Sauce & Pasta
Return the beef mixture to the pot. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, water, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, and a little more salt and pepper, if you’d like. Give it a good stir.
Add the elbow macaroni to the liquid. Toss in the bay leaves. Give it a gentle stir to settle the noodles into the liquid, but don’t overmix once the pasta is in—just enough to settle it into the liquid.
Step 3. Pressure Cook
Secure the lid and turn the pressure valve to “Sealing.” Set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 4 minutes. It will take a few minutes to come to pressure before the timer starts
Step 4. Quick Release and Stir
Once the timer goes off, carefully do a “manual” or “quick release” by turning the valve to “Venting.” When all the pressure has been released, take off the lid and remove the bay leaves.
Give everything a good stir. Taste and adjust the seasoning with extra salt and pepper, if needed.
Step 5: Garnish and serve
Spoon the goulash into bowls and top with grated Parmesan, shredded mozzarella, or fresh parsley—whatever your family loves. Serve hot and enjoy!
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How to Serve this Goulash Instant Pot Recipe
This American Goulash is a hearty, comforting meal on its own, but a few simple additions can take it to the next level!
Toppings & Garnishes:
- Sprinkle with grated Parmesan, shredded mozzarella, or cheddar for extra richness.
- Add a handful of fresh parsley or basil for a pop of color and freshness.
- A dollop of sour cream can add a creaminess.
Side Dishes:
- Steamed or roasted vegetables like green beans, zucchini, or parmesan broccoli make a great addition.
- Serve with crusty bread, garlic bread, or dinner rolls to soak up the flavorful sauce.
- A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette balances out the heartiness of the dish.
Variations and Substiutions
- Swap the meat: Ground turkey, chicken, or even Italian sausage all work well in place of ground beef. Just keep in mind that leaner meats may need a little extra seasoning to boost the flavor.
- Add veggies: Want to sneak in some extras? Diced bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms sautéed with the beef are great additions. Frozen peas or corn stirred in at the end also work well. If you add a good amount of veggies add in additional broth.
- Change up the pasta: Elbow macaroni is traditional, but you can use any smaller pasta, such as rotini, shells, or penne.
- Spice it up: Like a little heat? Add red pepper flakes, hot sauce, or a pinch of cayenne to taste.
- Cheesy twist: Stir in shredded cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend of both at the end for a creamy, cheesy version your kids will love.
FAQs
Absolutely. It reheats beautifully, so it’s great for making ahead. Just store it in the fridge and warm it up when you’re ready to serve.
Not at all! It’s full of savory flavor but not spicy. If your crew likes a little heat, you can always add crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to your own bowl.
This recipe was made in a 6-quart Instant Pot, which works great. If you’re using an 8-quart, you can double the recipe, but be mindful of the max fill line when pressure cooking.
Here Are a Few Simple Family Meals To Add to Your Menu!
- Taco Spaghetti Bake
- Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Skillet
- Oven Fried Panko Crusted Chicken Drumsticks
- Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Cheesy Skillet Meatballs in Marinara Sauce
I will leave you with a few Desserts you may enjoy!
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Instant Pot American Goulash
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Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ⅓ cup onion - diced
- 3 cloves garlic - minced
- salt and pepper - (to taste)
- 29 ounce can tomato sauce - (or two 14.5 ounce cans)
- 2 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 ½ cup water
- 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Italian seasoning - (I like to use 1 tbsp oregano and 1/2 tbsp each of basil and parsley, but you can stick with Italian Blend)
- 3 cups large elbow noodles - (about 1 lb)
- 2 bay leaves
- salt and pepper to taste - (I use 1/2 tsp of each)
Instructions
- Set your 6-quart Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Once hot, add the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the beef is browned, breaking it up as it cooks, then drain any excess fat.
- Return the beef mixture to the pot and stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, water, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, and additional salt & pepper if desired.
- Add the elbow macaroni and toss in the bay leaves, giving everything a good stir to combine.
- Secure the lid, turn the pressure valve to “Sealing,” and set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 4 minutes.
- Once the time is up, perform a quick release by carefully turning the valve to “Venting." When the pressure has fully released, remove the lid and discard the bay leaves. Stir the goulash well, then taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan or your favorite cheese, and finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley! Enjoy!
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Notes
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This post was originally published on June 13, 2018, and updated on November 5, 2025 to include additional step-by-step photos and helpful tips.
This looks wonderful! Since I like to get as much nutritional bang as I can in that I love casseroles, I think I am going to slightly cook corn, peas, chopped carrots and chopped celery in the microwave before adding to the instant Pot. I think it is going to be one great meal! I have had Goulash in Yugoslavia, before the country was torn apart, and this is going to taste alot like that!
My family loved it! It will be a go to recipe for us from now on. Yum!
I am so glad you all loved and will be enjoying it often! Thank you!
I followed the recipe exactly. Kept getting the foo burn warning. I have been using my insta pot for about a year and have never had that warning.
I am so sorry that is happening. I haven’t had that happen with this recipe. Are you using a 6 qt? May need to increase the liquid a bit or make sure no bits stuck on the bottom.
Yummy! Thank you.
You are welcome Carol! Thank you!
Just made your Goulash recipe for a funeral luncheon @ my church. Added a # of unseasoned sausage to stretch it a little, and your delicious recipe will be my new “go to recipe” for future carryons! Thanks for sharing!
You are making my day! I am so glad you enjoyed it and are sharing it with others!
I just tried this recipe in my new Instant Pot and it turned out pretty good. I used egg noodles and the 4 minutes was just right to cook them and not have them be mushy. I used one can of diced tomatoes that had green chiles in it for a little kick. I could have probably done this in a sauce pan more quickly, but since I’m learning how to use my new ‘toy’, it was fun and successful!
I am glad you are trying out your new toy! I love mine and trying new things! This definitely can be done on the stove top as well and is delicious both ways.
I’m not seeing quantities for anything. I must be missing something.
Kevin, scroll to the bottom of the page and the recipe card is there with all the ingredient quantities. If you are still having an issue seeing it, please let me know and I will try to help troubleshoot.
DElicious flavor but the noodles were super soggy and over done 🙁
I am so sorry they didn’t turn out for you! I have made this many times and never had that issue. I would suggest decreasing the water to 1 cup, decrease to 3 minutes, and make sure you quick release, if you make it again, and see if that works better for you. You can also turn on saute when done to let thicken up.
Just a suggestion – how about listing the size of the pan, in this case instant pot, you are using? It would mke things easier for people, like me. That way if I don’t have the correct size I can either buy that size or tweak the recipe to fit the size I have.
Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback. I use a 6 qt Instant Pot and will add the information to the recipe. Hope you enjoy!
Silly question, but do you cook the elbow macaroni before putting it into the Instant Pot? I have made this many, many times on the stovetop, but not in my Instant Pot and I am anxious to try this.
Thank you.
No questions are silly. No do not cook the noodles. They will cook in the Instant Pot! I love to make pasta in this. I have a Creamy Mac N Cheese recipes that is so delicious! Good luck and I hope you enjoy!