Chef John's Beef Goulash

4.7
(515)
405 Reviews
79 Photos

This Hungarian-style goulash is a thick beef stew that is great served over buttered noodles and garnished with sour cream.

By
John Mitzewich
Chef John
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich — aka Chef John — has produced more than 1,500 cooking videos for Allrecipes. He's the actor, director, and screenwriter whose hands and voice confidently walk you through techniques.
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Updated on March 11, 2024
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself.
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79
Close up on a bowl of egg noodles, topped with beef goulash and sour cream.
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Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
2 hrs
Total Time:
2 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings
Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 2-inch cubes

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 2 onions, chopped

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 2 tablespoons Hungarian paprika

  • 2 teaspoons caraway seeds, crushed

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram

  • ½ teaspoon ground thyme

  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 4 cups chicken broth, divided

  • ¼ cup tomato paste

  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon white sugar

  • ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste

  • 1 bay leaf

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    All ingredients gathered to make Chef John's beef goulash.

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  2. Season beef with salt and black pepper.

    Beef seasoned with salt and black pepper.

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  3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat; cook and stir beef in hot oil in batches until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch.

    Beef cooking in a skillet until browned on all sides.

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  4. Transfer to a large stockpot and reserve drippings in the skillet.

    Beef transferred to a large stockpot.

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  5. Return skillet to medium heat; stir onions into the reserved drippings, drizzle olive oil over onions, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until onion has softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the stockpot with beef.

    Onions cooking in skillet with reserved drippings, cooking until soft.

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    Onions added to stockpot with beef.

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  6. Combine paprika, caraway seeds, black pepper, marjoram, thyme, and cayenne pepper in the skillet and toast over medium heat until fragrant, about 3 minutes.

    Seasonings toasting until fragrant.

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  7. Add 1 cup chicken broth and stir; transfer to the beef and onion mixture.

    Chicken broth added to skillet of seasonings.

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    Seasonings and broth mixture added to stockpot of beef and onion.

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  8. Stir 3 cups chicken broth into beef mixture. Add tomato paste, garlic, vinegar, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and bay leaf; place stockpot over high heat and bring to a boil.

    Remainder of ingredients added to stockpot.

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  9. Reduce heat to low and simmer until a fork inserts easily into the meat, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

    Everything simmering until a fork easily inserts into the meat.

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Close up on a bowl of egg noddles, topped with beef goulash and sour cream.

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Recipe Tip

Real goulash is more like a soup, so if you want yours thinner, just add 2 to 3 extra cups of broth.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

573 Calories
41g Fat
13g Carbs
36g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 573
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 41g 53%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Cholesterol 134mg 45%
Sodium 1757mg 76%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 36g 72%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 58mg 4%
Iron 5mg 29%
Potassium 580mg 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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