Instant Pot Goulash

Instant pot goulash is a comforting recipe for beef, noodles, and pasta. This wholesome rustic stew has been adapted over time and it’s one of my favorite one-pot meals. Nothing picks me up on a cold blustery day like a big bowl of goulash!

I love that this is so easy to put together and everyone in the family is happy when it’s on the dinner table. Even picky eaters clean their plates. Yay!!

This is one of the heartiest pasta recipes ever and there are many different variations of the dish. This particular beef goulash recipe blends just the right herbs and spices to infuse robust flavor deep into the sauce. It practically begs to be eaten!

If you’re looking for the traditional, real-deal, European goulash, you have to try my German goulash or Hungarian goulash. Both are huge reader favorites on my site.

That said, the most popular of all my goulashes is very different, American style, American goulash. This is a dish that has been in my family for over 4 generations. It’s literally the most popular recipe I have on the site since I began writing it! Listen…I take all of my goulash recipes very seriously!

Let’s make some goulash!

What I Love About This Recipe

• Wholesome and nutritious
• Ready fast
• Easy prep
• Hearty and satisfying
• Family Favorite!

• Ground Beef: This particular recipe is designed for ground beef. I use 80/20 but 85/15 or 90/10 would work too. Technically you could make it with ground turkey also, but it may not be quite as savory.
• Sweet Hungarian Paprika: This noble paprika is often labeled édesnemes and it’s the most commonly exported paprika. You should be able to find this bright red variety of sweet paprika on most grocery store shelves. This is the one I use.
• Onion, Pepper & Garlic: Sautéing your veggies while you’re cooking your beef is super important because it coaxes out those sweeter mellow flavors that give your instant pot goulash recipe depth.
  • You’ll also notice that you need to briefly sauté your herbs and spices until they become fragrant. This only takes about a minute, but it perks them up and brings out their complex flavors.
• Diced Tomatoes: It’s important that you don’t ‘drain’ your diced tomatoes because you’ll want to add the juice to the instant pot goulash recipe. The diced tomato juice blends with the tomato sauce, broth, and spices to create an intense saucy base for your goulash.
• Elbow Pasta: I like to use elbow pasta in this recipe, but you can use any pasta you prefer. It’s best not to use anything too big but you do want a good vehicle for transporting all that yumminess.
• Storing Tips:  You’ll want to store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Be sure it cools completely before being prepared for storage. You can also put it in a gallon-sized resealable bag if your fridge is packed and you need the space. (like mine! Lol)

Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead

• How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? This will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days. As it sits in the fridge, the pasta will likely absorb the liquid in the dish.
  • Of course, the pasta will change in texture and become softer, and you’ll likely need to add more liquid. I like to add a bit of beef broth to achieve the texture I want, but in a pinch, feel free to add water.
• Can You Freeze This? Yes and no. I know this sounds weird, but it’s the truth! The sauce freezes great in a food-grade container or freezer bag but the pasta – not so much.
  • If you’re planning to freeze your instant pot goulash recipe, you may want to wait to add the noodles just before serving.
• Make Ahead Tips: This goulash recipe is one of those meals that continue to develop flavor even after it’s cooked. It seems to be even more delicious the next day if that’s possible!
  • The pasta does, however, continue to absorb the sauce as it sits, so if you only like your pasta texture al dente, you may prefer to eat it the same day it’s made.
  • I like to make a double batch of this goulash and freeze half of it before I put the noodles in.

Instant Pot Goulash Serving Recommendations

I like to serve it with bread on the side. I like this with my virtually no-knead, soft, fluffy, and amazingly crusty no-knead bread recipe, Bisquick biscuit recipe,  sweet and cake-like Bisquick cornbread, beer bread, or seriously crazy delish, easy butter swim biscuits.

More Amazing Goulash + Stew Recipes

• Crockpot Goulash
• Classic Beef Stew
• Brunswick Stew
• Hamburger Stew
• Chicken Stew
• Pork Stew
• Slow Cooker Beef Stew
• Meatball Stew

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Instant Pot Goulash

Instant pot goulash is a hearty dish full of wholesome ingredients and robust spices that build layers of yummy flavor to warm you from the inside out.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Author: Kathleen

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ▢ 1 pound ground beef, 80/20
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
• ▢ 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 2 teaspoons sweet Hungarian paprika
• ▢ 2 bay leaves
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ▢ 3 cups beef broth
• ▢ 2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite diced tomatoes, juices included
• ▢ 2 (15-ounce) canned tomato sauce
• ▢ 2 cups elbow pasta (dry)
• ▢ 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Turn the 6.5-quart Instant pot onto the saute function. Add the vegetable oil (2 tablespoons). When the display reads "hot". Add the ground beef (1 pound), onion (1 1/2 cups), red pepper (1), and garlic (4 cloves) and brown and crumble the beef.
• Stir in the paprika (2 teaspoons), bay leaves (2), Italian seasoning (2 teaspoons), oregano (1 teaspoon), caraway seeds (1/2 teaspoon), salt (1 teaspoon), pepper (1/2 teaspoon), and soy sauce (1 tablespoon). Continue to saute, stirring constantly so spices don't burn, until spices become fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in beef broth (3 cups), diced tomatoes (2 cans) with their liquid, tomato sauce (2 cans), and pasta (2 cups).
• Place the lid on and set the "steam release" knob to "sealing". Press the "Manual" button and set it to pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.  
• When the pressure cooking cycle has been completed, do a quick release by switching the valve to the "venting" position to completely release steam before opening the lid.
• After the pin drops, carefully open the lid away from you (there will likely still be remaining steam). Stir the goulash. Test the pasta. If the pasta is underdone, place the lid back on the pot and let the goulash sit for a minute or so until the desired doneness is achieved. If the goulash becomes too thick, stir in water to thin.
  
• Ladle into individual bowls, sprinkle with parsley (2 tablespoons) and cheddar cheese (1 1/2 cups) then serve.

Fans Also Made:

• 
  Goulash Soup
• 
  Instant Pot Beef Stew
• 
  Instant Pot Spaghetti
• 
  Instant Pot Spaghetti And Meatballs (Easy Dinner!)

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Notes

1. Ground Beef: This particular recipe is designed for ground beef. I use 80/20 but 85/15 or 90/10 would work too. Technically you could make it with ground turkey also, but it may not be quite as savory.
2. Sweet Hungarian Paprika: This noble paprika is often labeled édesnemes and it’s the most commonly exported paprika. You should be able to find this bright red variety of sweet paprika on most grocery store shelves.
3. Onion, Pepper & Garlic: Sautéing your veggies while you’re cooking your beef is super important because it coaxes out those sweeter mellow flavors that give your instant pot goulash recipe depth.
   • You’ll also notice that you need to briefly sauté your herbs and spices until they become fragrant. This only takes about a minute, but it perks them up and brings out their complex flavors.
4. Diced Tomatoes: It’s important that you don’t ‘drain’ your diced tomatoes because you’ll want to add the juice to the instant pot goulash recipe. The diced tomato juice blends with the tomato sauce, broth, and spices to create an intense saucy base for your goulash.
5. Elbow Pasta: I like to use elbow pasta in this recipe, but you can use any pasta you prefer. It’s best not to use anything too big but you do want a good vehicle for transporting all that yumminess.
6. Storing Tips:  You’ll want to store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Be sure it cools completely before being prepared for storage. You can also put it in a gallon-sized resealable bag if your fridge is packed and you need the space. (like mine! Lol)

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 of the recipe | Calories: 644kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 2192mg | Potassium: 935mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1590IU | Vitamin C: 40.3mg | Calcium: 267mg | Iron: 3.4mg

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