Hungarian Goulash Recipe
Beef Stew with Paprika
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
- cup vegetable oil
- 3 onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons Hungarian sweet paprika
- 3 teaspoons salt, divided
- teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 cups water
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Directions:
Step 1: Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 4 minutes, until they become soft. Remove the onions from the pot and set them aside.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine the Hungarian sweet paprika, 2 teaspoons of salt, and ground black pepper. Coat the beef stew cubes in the spice mixture.
Step 3: Add the seasoned beef cubes to the same pot you cooked the onions in. Cook the beef on all sides until it is browned.
Step 4: Once the beef is browned, return the cooked onions to the pot. Pour in the water, tomato paste, minced garlic, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt.
Step 5: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 1 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender and the flavors have melded together.
Nutrition Facts (per serving):
- Calories: 549
- Total Fat: 42g (54% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 15g (73% DV)
- Cholesterol: 114mg (38% DV)
- Sodium: 1139mg (50% DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 9g (3% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 2g (8% DV)
- Total Sugars: 5g
- Protein: 33g (66% DV)
- Vitamin C: 8mg (9% DV)
- Calcium: 35mg (3% DV)
- Iron: 4mg (24% DV)
- Potassium: 833mg (18% DV)
Comments
Poch
10/06/2025 01:52:54 PM
I make this recipe all the time (with modifications) and it is always a crowd pleaser! I add: 3 tblsp Worcestershire Sauce, 2 tblsp brown sugar, 1 tblsp vinegar, 2 tblsp katsup and use beef broth as others suggested. I also use London Broil and slice itht thin then cut into chunks. Thanks for a fabulous recipe!
EmiraAlex
11/29/2016 03:40:32 PM
My four children - picky eaters - loved this meal. I had only rotini noodles so that's what I served with the goulash, and the kids loved it. I I didn't have beef broth so I followed suggestions of others and I added 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of vinegar and a dash or two of hot sauce . I used 1/4 cup tomato paste plus I chopped up a fresh tomato and a green pepper and added them along with all the liquids. I cooked it on medium in the crock pot for 3 hours.
redrumcolleen
11/06/2021 05:19:32 PM
I love this base recipe! Some of the adding to the dish I did but there’s a couple of things I did that wasn’t stated in other reviews I read, I used a couple bay leafs and a can of Rotel. Also when browning meat afterwards I flour meat and add a little unsalted butter so meat doesn’t stick and it helps meat get a nice flour coating. My husband has been asking me for this dish ever since I started making. Thank You!
Barbara Anne
01/20/2016 02:32:47 PM
This is a very tasty recipe. After browning and mixing everything in the pan, I transferred it to a a crockpot and cooked it on high for 4 hours because I didn't want to have to keep an eye on the stove. I did substitute a can of beef broth for the water and, as Poch suggested, added 3 tblsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tblsp brown sugar, 1 tblsp vinegar, 2 tblsp catsup. I also added about a cup of canned, diced tomatoes (drained) and small jar of sliced mushrooms (drained) because I am trying to add more veggies to my diet. I'm sure it is great without the additional ingredients, too.
gailannteacher
05/09/2020 05:51:04 PM
I used ground turkey, chicken broth, extra paprika, zucchini, mushrooms, and cooked it for 10 minutes in the Instant Pot after sauteeing the turkey with an onion.
John Sherrill
09/02/2024 01:01:54 AM
Simple & Delicious!!!! Only thing I did was add 2 TBSP of Worcestershire Sause & 1 TBSB Apple Cider Vinegar.
SteadyMead5612
06/17/2024 06:08:12 PM
I love the recipe… been using now for at least 11 years if not longer. The only thing I do extra is season the onions with salt and pepper and I eyeball the salt for the dish as well as garlic because we love garlic I add a splash of Worcestershire in the dish and cook it for 2 hours also I substitute the water with beef broth. The kids love it we put it over egg noodles and voila…
AmberSage7755
03/23/2024 11:45:57 PM
Cooked with beef broth, modified with Worchestershire, ketchup, and brown sugar, and allowed to simmer for an extra half hour at low heat. It's delicious.
Ashley Woodard
07/25/2019 04:53:42 PM
YUMMO! My husband really loved this recipe a lot! I followed the recipe with a few exceptions. I saw some reviews that said to use fresh tomato instead of tomato paste, and I used beef broth instead of water and once I was done browning my meat and unions I added the rest of the ingredients and cooked it in the oven in my Dutch oven on 325-350 for 2 hours! The meat was perfectly tender! Served over egg noodles and garnished with sour cream
Terri Penaflorida-Lotto
12/06/2015 08:51:24 PM
Definitely a keeper and will use this recipe again! Super easy with ingredients I already have on hand. My adjustments based on previous reviews (thank you BTY): Doubled the sweet paprika, added 4 cloves of garlic, used beef bouillon, chunks of carrots. I raided freezer and used Trader Joe's mushroom medley mix and sprinkled some gravy thickener last 15-20 min of cooking. Everything cooked in 2-hrs. Served with rice.
Elliot
02/18/2019 02:15:28 AM
This was delicious, like my mom used to make. It was reallly easy. Prep time about 1/2 hour. Cook time about 2.5 hours, until meat tender. Sauce came out wonderfully thick. Very important to sear meat before 2.5 hours of simmering. We served it over rice to make it gluten free. Not spicy at all, just flavorful.
Tony Callamaras
09/12/2025 10:27:10 PM
I made this dish and everyone raved about it. Yep, it’s a keeper. I substituted three things and used olive oil, regular paprika, and stew beef It came out great.
Sharron Smith-purdy
08/06/2025 11:32:01 PM
The very best original hungarian goulosh l have ever made!!!
dhisrael
06/13/2025 05:16:20 PM
Easy and delicious! I used 1/2 of Marsala Wine for 1/2 of water. Good! Noodles are good but my biscuits are better!
QuaintRib8914
03/20/2025 05:09:38 PM
Added a splash of balsamic vinegar! Incredible flavor and easy to make!
Jennifer Rodriguez
03/18/2025 08:13:29 PM
Had all the ingredients at home — perfect!
SpeedyMilk4014
03/18/2025 04:52:20 PM
Master, best meal since 1978!
John Munna
03/10/2025 01:57:44 AM
very good. served it over rice with salad and home made baguettes. Next time will use a good paprika.
AceTaro3787
03/09/2025 01:24:35 AM
Good recipe. I can't wait to try it.
Mary
03/04/2025 02:23:50 PM
This recipe was enjoyed by my family. Would make it again