Old Fashioned German Goulash
Classic simple and hearty, this goulash recipe is perfect for fall and winter family meals.
Enjoy the comforts of classic home cooking with this easy recipe for Old Fashioned German Goulash. Made with beef, carrots, potatoes and all of your favorite seasonings, there is no way you can go wrong with a great goulash recipe like this one. It is a family favorite across all generations – grandparents, parents, and kids! We can guarantee that you family will love it just as much as ours does.
When the weather starts getting chilly, just turn to hearty and comforting goulash recipes and you'll be set for the season. It’s more filling than soup, which makes it the perfect dinner for chilly fall and winter nights. This classic German recipe has been tried and tested for years, so you know that you’re getting the best possible dinner with this recipe. Of all the German recipes we've come across, this one has to be one of our all-time favorites (although that might be a different story if we include German dessert recipes....
Please note: The video shown is not the same as the one listed below. The recipes are similar but not exactly the same. Both recipes were made in our test kitchen. The recipe for the video shown can be found here: Great Gran's Greatest Goulash.
Serves6
Preparation Time30 min
Cooking Time3 hr
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
- 2 pounds beef chuck or round, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
- 2 cups onion, cut in 1 inch pieces
- 1 large clove garlic, finely minced
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- 1 small bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 4 medium potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 2-3 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 (20-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained (see note)
- 1 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 1 pound wide, home-style noodles
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoons minced parsley
For more recipes like this, try our collection: Awesome Recipes for Goulash: 23 Cozy & Cheap Eats
Instructions
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In a Dutch oven, place oil and heat pan on medium high until oil sizzles.
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Add half the beef and brown well, about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice. Remove meat with a slotted spoon to a bowl (reserve any drained juices) and repeat with remaining beef.
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Return first batch of browned beef to the pan, add onion, garlic and spices and continue to cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until onions are translucent.
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Return any drained juices from the meat to the pot, add the potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and wine to the pan and bring to a boil. Lower heat to lowest setting and cover. Continue to simmer 2 – 3 hours, checking and stirring once or twice - add a bit of water if the liquid evaporates before the time is up.
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When ready to serve, boil the noodles as the package directs. Drain and toss with optional butter and parsley. Serve noodles with the goulash.
Notes:
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"Goulash" is simply another word for stew and is popular in many countries, with the spices changing according to local custom. The stew is traditionally served ladled over buttered noodles.
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You may use the tomatoes as they come from the can, or cut them roughly into 1-inch pieces before adding.
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Seth
Jul 13, 2018
I am of the belief that the paprika is the secret to the making this such a fantastic goulash recipe! Next time (and there WILL be a next time) I will try it with smoked paprika like the cooks below did. Even with unsmoked paprika it was heavenly - tasty, flavorful and wonderfully tender. A really comforting meal that is suitable for every member of the family.
Zeemer
Apr 23, 2018
This Old Fashioned German Goulash reminds me of the old reliable beef stew that my mom used to cook for us. It is sort of a comfort food for us. So yummy and so nutritious.
Lynn K
Sep 30, 2017
Such a comforting and filling meal and great flavor too. I took Gerhilds advice (below) and used smoked paprika and O!M!W! it was so good with just a hint of the smokiness permeating the overall flavors. I will definitely be using this recipe many times in the future and if you try it you will understand why.
Sandi C
Jun 21, 2017
This is a great variation of goulash. I make the Hungarian version which uses stew beef, paprika, ketchup, onion, and worcestire sauce. I make it either on the stove top or the crock pot and serve it over egg noodles. I love it and it makes for a great comfort food. I haven't made it in awhile but now seeing this, I think I'll reintroduce it into the meal rotation.
FoodLover
Jan 24, 2017
This certainly looks like a yummy stew and I am definitely going to make it. I did have the idea though that this could be cooked in a slow cooker. Just follow steps 1 through 4 but cook the dish in a slow cooker instead of a dutch oven. Then you can cook it whilst at work and when you come home prepare the noodles and you have a great meal.
kmcartoonity 62072 74
Jan 18, 2017
I have been using smoked paprika a lot lately in my cooking, and I think it would be great in this dish. My grandmother "Oma" made a dish like this whenever company came over to visit. However she did not use any carrots or potatoes. She would make homemade spaetzle noodles and serve the meat / gravy over them.
Gerhild
Dec 01, 2016
German recipe? Well, being German I can say that this one is very similar to the one I've made for years. Many times, though, I'll make it without the potatoes and serve it over potatoes. Using noodles is more of a southern Germany tradition. Some would say goulash is Hungarian. Well, I believe it has its roots there, but we Germans know when something is really good and like to adapt it to our tastes. And yes, I love to add paprika to mine. Do try it with smoked paprika ... adds such a nice depth of flavor!
martin1864 1295104
Sep 04, 2016
Sorry to say but this is not goulash, take it from me I lived in Germany for 11 years and have been married to a German gal for 21 years and counting. This recipe described here is for Eintopf which means one-pot or better know in English as beff stew. I included a picture of what real German goulash looks like served with a side of spaetzli, one can also make potato dumplings, potato pancakes or dampfknodels to go along with it.
Zimm102090
Sep 16, 2015
I've never tried any other German goulash recipe before, so I have nothing to compare this to. In fact, the only goulash I ever eat is American. Anyway, this this pretty much tasted like beef stew to me, so I'm not sure what the difference is between normal beef stew and German goulash.
okay person
Sep 16, 2015
I think there was too much wine. Maybe only a cup was necessary. I'd also add a bay leave and black pepper when cooking.
amatlin
Sep 16, 2015
A bowl of this on a winter day sounds perfect! I will be making it again.
LizzieG2
Sep 07, 2014
I had to try this recipe as it is so like my mother's recipe for Hungarian Gulyas Soup (Goulash), which her mother who came from Austria-Hungary, taught to her. This is a very tasty soup, but it left me hungry for the Hungarian version. The primary differences are adding chopped green pepper and celery, and adding a heaping teaspoonful of caraway seed in place of the dried herbs. I use stew meat or I cut up a pot roast myself. I use beef broth or water instead of red wine. The rest of the recipe is basically as given here. If you like this, as I did, you must try the Hungarian version. And it is even better the next day! - no sour cream and no dumplings.
codcut
Aug 20, 2014
Well then garyccook.... How bout you posting your version so we all can savor the flavor of real German goulash.?
garyccook 2069037
Feb 25, 2014
The recipe for old time german goulash is totally not correct. I lived in Germany for 25 of the last 48 years (been married to a german woman for 48 years). German goulash is not made like your recipe.
freeshias4me 46797 41
Dec 25, 2014
I agree... That recipe has French herbs thrown in there, and Paprika, which is a "Hungarian thing".
ROSEGMcBride49866 5817389
Nov 04, 2013
I use equal amounts of cubed beef, pork and diced onions! I omit carrots and potatoes; sometimes I add sour cream just before serving. That's my German Goulash (Unterfranken), but I guess it depends on what region you live in.
cyraleneb601 25088 90
Apr 13, 2013
Information was received for German goulash,was very simple i will enjoy serving this dish to friends and family...
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