A super simple 20-minute meal using Italian sausage, macaroni noodles and tomato soup to make the easiest American-style goulash the whole family (especially the kids!) will love.
JUMP TO RECIPEReal quick, before we talk about this recipe, let's go ahead and have The Goulash Conversation. You know, the argument people have any time someone says the word Goulash?
If you don't know what I'm talking about, jump on any social media platform with a picture of what goulash is to you then watch what happens. Lawzamercy!
There are dozens of types of goulash but the two main ones are REAL Hungarian-style goulash and the American version. People either don't realize there are two (very different) types or they're just miserable people who need to work out some issues.
WHAT IS AMERICAN-STYLE GOULASH?
Also called American Chop Suey (and sometimes Johnny Marzetti or Slumgullion), American-style goulash is simply a skillet meal consisting of ground meat (usually beef), macaroni noodles and some sort of tomato sauce.
It's a far, far stretch away from traditional Hungarian goulash which is a stew with braised meat and a thick, rich sauce seasoned primarily with good quality paprika.
You can read more about traditional goulash in my recipe post for Potato Goulash with Sausage. Also, it is DELICIOUS!
5 REASONS I LOVE THIS RECIPE
- It is the single easiest and fastest recipe I've ever made with the fewest ingredients and it still tastes amazing.
- Using Italian sausage instead of ground beef means we don't need to drag out any seasonings (not even salt and pepper) or aromatics (garlic, onions, peppers, etc) because the sausage is already thoroughly seasoned.
- My kids hate chunks of tomatoes in anything (especially when they were little) so using the tomato soup eliminates that issue.
- The tomato soup is the tiniest bit sweet which works brilliantly with the spicy sausage. And kids love anything that has a hint of sweetness (like ketchup).
- The leftovers heat up like a dream!
FAQ ON 3-INGREDIENT SAUSAGE GOULASH
If this is American-style goulash, why are you using Italian sausage? Don't overthink this, Brenda. On its best day, American Goulash is one click away from Hamburger Helper or Beefaroni. It's a meal born from the need of quick and easy suppers for busy families. The sausage is heavily seasoned so it makes everything even that much quicker and easier.
Can I make this with ground beef instead of sausage? You sure can! You'll need to season the beef, though. I'd add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika but make it how you like!
Why doesn't this goulash have tomatoes in it? Using tomato soup instead of canned tomatoes or tomato paste makes for a silky smooth, perfectly saucy backdrop for the goulash with zero effort. Plus I was going for a recipe with the fewest ingredients possible and tomato soup makes that happen!
Do I have to use tomato soup? For this recipe, yes. I feel pretty confident you could sub one can of soup with one can of diced tomatoes but I haven't tested it. If anyone does, comment to let us know how it goes!
If the main star of traditional goulash is paprika, why is there none in this recipe? Two reasons. One - the tomato soup is a skosh on the sweet side and so is paprika so no need to double-down. Two - the main draw of this recipe is that it only has three ingredients so I wanted to keep everything hella simple.
Can I use another type of pasta? Absolutely, though traditional American goulash is made with macaroni noodles. You can use any small, tubular pasta.
MORE QUICK & EASY DINNER RECIPES
CUPBOARD CASSEROLE - A super quick and easy casserole recipe using canned chicken, egg noodles and cream soup – all items from your cupboard or pantry!
HIBACHI CHICKEN & RICE SKILLET - A one-pan family-sized meal with hibachi chicken and rice that’s super easy to prepare, uses everyday ingredients and way less expensive than take-out.
STEAK FAJITA PASTA - A stove-top recipe for perfectly cooked flank steak, peppers and onions tossed with penne pasta and a simple creamy pan sauce that’s ready in 30 minutes!
CREAMY CHICKEN PASTA - A 30-minute skillet dinner with bite-sized pieces of perfectly seasoned chicken and noodles tossed in an easy, creamy pan sauce.
ITALIAN SAUSAGE & RICE SKILLET - A 30-minute meal with hearty sausage cooked with rice, tomatoes and Italian spices finished with fresh spinach and parmesan cheese.
CHICKEN & MUSHROOM RICE - A quick and easy skillet meal recipe with savory chicken and buttery mushrooms cooked with rice in one pan.
Recipe for 3-Ingredient Sausage Goulash
3-Ingredient Sausage Goulash
A super simple 20-minute meal using Italian sausage, macaroni noodles and tomato soup to make the easiest American-style goulash the whole family (especially the kids!) will love.
Ingredients
- 1-1.25 lbs Italian sausage
- 2 cups elbow macaroni noodles (uncooked)
- 2 cans tomato soup
Instructions
- Cook macaroni noodles in liberally salted water per manufacturer's instructions for al dente preparation. Drain noodles then set aside. 2 c. macaroni noodles
- Meanwhile, remove casings from sausage (if applicable) then cook and crumble sausage over medium-high heat in a 12-inch skillet until nicely browned. 1-1.25 lbs sausage
- Drain sausage. TIP: I usually lay 4-5 paper towels on the counter then pour the sausage on top so the towels absorb the grease. When I try to drain sausage in a colander I don't usually get much grease to drain off but those paper towels sure soak it up!
- Add drained sausage and tomato soup (straight from the can, do not prepare first) to skillet then heat over medium heat until bubbling. 2 cans tomato soup
- Stir in cooked macaroni noodles. Cook and gently stir 2 minutes then serve. NOTE: If the cooked noodles sat long enough to dry out a bit, you may need to add 1/2 soup can of water to the skillet to ensure everything is good and saucy.
Notes
- Any small tubular pasta will work but traditional American-style goulash is made with macaroni noodles.
- Use any 10-11 oz can condensed tomato soup - I use Campbell's.
- Hot or mild Italian sausage can be used but I don't recommend using sweet Italian sausage as the tomato soup leans on the sweet side.
- Other questions have likely been answered in the FAQ section above the recipe card.
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Hi there! While I’m not able to respond to every comment, I try hard to answer any questions that haven’t been addressed in the post, recipe or in other comments.
I can tell you now 1) I have no idea if you can substitute Minute Rice or brown rice in my recipes because I’ve never used them and 2) If I know how to convert a recipe to a Crock Pot version, I will make a note about it (otherwise, I don’t know).
And though I may not respond to them all, I do read each and every comment and I LOVE to hear from you guys! Thanks, y’all! - Mandy