4.45 from 672 ratings

Instant Pot Goulash

Old-fashioned Instant Pot goulash is a classic family dish that comes together easily in your pressure cooker. Whether you call it goulash, Johnny Marzetti, or American chop suey, you have to agree that this recipe is simply THE BEST!

best instant pot goulash recipe

Pressure Cooker Goulash Recipe

Readers have been begging me to create an Instant Pot version of my popular Old-Fashioned Goulash recipe.

Therefore, I’m SO happy to be sharing this incredible Instant Pot goulash recipe with you today!

This is the most popular recipe on my blog, and thousands of Pinterest users have tried and loved this easy family recipe!

Our Instant Pot goulash recipe is SPECIAL and UNIQUE! In other words, It’s not just pasta, meat, and a jar of sauce.

It’s loaded with quality, real ingredients that come together to make a flavorful family meal.

PRO Instant Pot Tip: How To Fix The C6L Error On Your Instant Pot

Instant Pot Old Fashioned Goulash

How to Make Instant Pot Goulash

Note, this is American goulash. Sometimes it’s also called American chop suey or for Ohioans like me, Johnny Marzetti.

Are you looking for Hungarian-style goulash recipe? Then check out this one.

Certainly, I love easy recipes. I’m not above using a jar of pasta sauce!

However, you just can’t beat the depth of flavor achieved when using my special combination of delicious ingredients.

Pressure cooker goulash

If you’re saying to yourself, enough talk already, just SHOW ME THE RECIPE, then just scroll down toward the bottom of the page to get our complete Instant Pot goulash recipe! :)

easy instant pot goulash

Cook the ground beef

Firstly, set the Instant Pot to sauté. When hot, add the olive oil, onion, and garlic; sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and brown until no pink remains. Spoon off any excess liquid. 

Add the additional ingredients

Secondly, add the one cup of beef broth and stir to deglaze. Add the 2 cups of water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and the remaining seasonings. Stir well. Stir in the elbow macaroni.

Cook on high pressure

Finally, put on the lid, set to sealing, and set to high pressure for 1 minute, with a quick release. After that, when all the pressure is released carefully remove lid and stir. Make sure to turn off the keep warm function to prevent the pasta from overcooking. Serve your Instant Pot goulash IMMEDIATELY for best results! Top with shredded cheese, optional, but honestly… who wouldn’t? :)

best instant pot goulash recipe

Tips for Making Instant Pot Old-Fashioned Goulash

I make this goulash recipe in my 6-quart Instant Pot. You will need to use a 6-quart or larger pot to accommodate this recipe. I’ve been thinking about getting an 8-quart pot, myself. Do you have one? Do you love it?

In addition, be sure sure to break up your ground beef well during the sautéing phase.

Important note about cooking time. While it may seem like 1 minute at high pressure is not enough time, trust me, it is. Keep in mind that the pasta will be starting to cook while the pot comes up to pressure.

I find that the 1 minute with a QUICK RELEASE produces a JUST al-dente pasta that will hold up on day two and three. If you want your pasta to be even closer to true al-dente, you could cook for 0 minutes at high pressure with a quick release.

Moreover, if find the pasta is still too tough for your liking, it’s a very simple fix. Put the lid back on and let it sit for a minute or two. You can make your pasta softer, but you don’t want to go too far and have mushy pasta hence the 1 minute cook time!

Finely grate your own cheese (like in my picture) for the most luscious results. You can use the bagged stuff too, of course! :)

I am SUCH an IP-recipe junkie. In fact, I just tried Jessica’s Instant Pot Baked Ziti, and y’all, it’s SO GOOD!

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Did you make this recipe? It really is the BEST! If you loved it and want to really help this site, consider leaving a rating, comment, and pinning this recipe to your favorite Pinterest boards. Your support helps us so much! :)

4.45 from 672 ratings

Instant Pot Goulash

Author: Crissy Page
Servings: 10 servings
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Old-fashioned Instant Pot goulash is a delicious family meal that your whole family will love! This reminds me of the Johnny Marzetti that my grandma used to make when I was a kid!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 2 large yellow onions chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 cups of water
  • 2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce
  • 2 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions
 

  • Set the Instant Pot to sauté. When hot, add the olive oil, onion, and garlic; sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and brown until no pink remains. Spoon off any excess liquid. 
  • Add the one cup of beef broth and stir to deglaze. Add the 2 cups of water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and the remaining seasonings. Stir well. Stir in the elbow macaroni.
  • Put on the lid, set to sealing position, and set to high pressure for 1 minute, with a quick release. After all the pressure is released carefully remove lid and stir. Make sure to turn off the keep warm function to prevent the pasta from overcooking. Top with shredded cheese, optional.

Notes

  • Remove the inner pot after cooking is complete to allow for faster cooling.
  • Serve IMMEDIATELY for best results!
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Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 651mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g
Nutrition values are estimates, sourced from an online nutrition calculator. This information should never be considered a substitute for medical advice. Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Course: Instant Pot
Cuisine: American
Keyword: american goulash, Instant Pot goulash, old fashioned goulash, pressure cooker

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4.45 from 672 votes (634 ratings without comment)

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136 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was great!  I made it with gluten free rotini.  Followed the directions to the letter.  My family of 4 loved it. Thanks for the recipe!

    1. I’m making gluten free tonight, glad to see it came out awesome..😁

  2. 5 stars
    I new to the instapot world!! I made this tonight and my pasta wasn’t done after the 1minute on high pressure. What did I do wrong? 

    1. 5 stars
      I had the same issue. I put it back on for another minute and pasta was done.

  3. Can I use small shells or rigatoni in place of elbows?

    1. Sandy Bruno says:

      I used rigitomi. It turned out great. I’m sure small shells would work too. 

  4. 5 stars
    So easy and the flavor is amazing! Turned out perfect!

  5. Should you drain the tomatoes? Or dump the whole can in?

  6. Is there something else I could use besides the beef stock that would be just as yummy?

    1. You could use chicken stock

  7. I will be making this for dinner today. It’s just my hubby and I so I am sure there will be leftovers. Have you ever tried freezing this?? Trying to decide if I need to half the recipe or not, lol. TIA 

    1. Erin Kennedy says:

      I Have an 8Quart Bella pro series and I LOVE it!!! It has a non-stick pot unlike the instapot…..very handy for sauteeing…..I poach eggs in it everyday and I now make corn,mash pototoes,beets steammed veggies etc easy peasy

  8. 5 stars
    My husband has claimed this to be the best “spaghetti” I’ve ever made. I had to laugh and explain it’s goulash! He said he didn’t care what I called it as long as I make it again! 

  9. susan cole says:

    5 stars
    Can I make this with frozen ground beef? I don’t think so but wanted to ask

  10. Bruce Staten says:

    5 stars
    Excellent one pot meal- very tasty, very good football game eating! You will not be disappointed- everyone loved it!

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