This American comfort food dish consists of various types of pasta such as egg noodles or macaroni, along with ground beef or hamburger, tomatoes, onions, paprika, and garlic. Typically served as a main meal, the popularity of American goulash lies in the fact that it is easy to prepare and inexpensive.

The first written mention of the dish was found in a cookbook from 1914, but the only connection to the traditional Hungarian goulash is the addition of paprika. Today, the dish is often garnished with grated or melted cheese, and it is often prepared with leftovers.