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This vegan goulash is packed with savory flavor! Made with macaroni in a smoky, savory sauce, along with a hearty mix of lentils and mushrooms that stand in for meat, this delicious stew will be your new favorite comfort food meal.
I stopped eating meat when I was pretty young, so I missed out on a lot of classic dishes that other people grew up eating. I'm discovering a lot of those dishes now as I veganize them!
A while back I shared a recipe for eggplant goulash, which is really a meatless version of Hungarian-style goulash. But I later learned that American goulash is a thing too!
So I did a little research on American goulash, and you know what? It's a really weird dish. Most of the recipes for conventional, meat-based American goulash call for ingredients that I'd never really expect to go together, like macaroni, meat, soy sauce and paprika.
I decided to give the dish a try, but replacing the meat with mushrooms and lentils. And you know what? It was delicious! This vegan goulash was an absolute flavor bomb. It's a great comfort food meal and the recipe makes a great big batch, so you can enjoy leftovers for days!
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- Ingredients You'll Need
- How It's Made
- More Vegan Dinner Recipes
- Vegan Goulash (American-Style!)
Ingredients You'll Need
- Brown lentils. This recipe calls for uncooked lentils. If you happen to have lentils that have already been cooked (like canned lentils) on hand, you can use them instead. You'll need about 2 cups or one 15-ounce can. Feel free to substitute green lentils if that's what you've got, keeping in mind that they'll take a bit longer to cook. I don't recommend using red lentils for this recipe.
- Olive oil. Just about any high-heat oil can be substituted, such as canola, corn, or coconut oil.
- Cremini mushrooms. These are also known as baby portobellos. White button mushrooms will work as a substitute.
- Onion.
- Red bell pepper.
- Garlic.
- Vegetable broth. I like Better Than Bouillon brand in seasoned vegetable flavor.
- Tomato sauce.
- Diced tomatoes.
- Spices. We're using a mix of sweet paprika, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, and bay leaves.
- Soy sauce. Tamari or liquid aminos will work if needed.
- Elbow macaroni. Use gluten-free pasta if needed.
- Tomato paste.
- Salt & pepper.
- Vegan sour cream. Use store-bought sour cream or homemade cashew cream.
- Fresh parsley.
How It's Made
- Cook your lentils by boiling them in water, then drain then when they're done. Make sure they're fully cooked but not mushy. Check on them frequently to prevent overcooking.
- Cook the mushrooms in some olive oil while the lentils boil. Make sure you're letting them sit on the hot surface and not stirring them too much. Too much stirring can prevent them from browning.
- Add diced onion to the pot and cook it with the onion for a few minutes, until it starts to soften.
- Add bell pepper and garlic to the pot and sauté everything briefly.
- Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, spices, soy sauce, and macaroni.
- Raise the heat, bring the liquid to a boil, and let the mixture simmer until the pasta is al dente — fully cooked but a little on the firm side.
- Add the tomato paste and cooked lentils to the pot, let it simmer a couple minutes more, then take the pot away from heat.
- Season your vegan goulash with salt and pepper to taste.
- Ladle it into bowls and serve each with a dollop of vegan sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
Leftovers & Storage
Leftover vegan goulash will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days or in the freezer for about 3 months.
More Vegan Dinner Recipes
- Portobello Vegan Beef(less) Stew
- Classic Vegan Pot Pie
Like this recipe? If so, please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you try it! Also be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter for more recipes like this one!
5 from 8 votes
Vegan Goulash (American-Style!)
This vegan goulash is packed with savory flavor! Made with macaroni in a smoky, savory sauce, along with a hearty mix of lentils and mushrooms that stand in for meat, this delicious stew will be your new favorite comfort food meal.
CourseEntree
CuisineAmerican
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 341 kcal
Author Alissa Saenz
Ingredients
- ¾cupdried brown lentils
- 2tablespoons olive oil
- 6ouncescremini mushrooms,cleaned and roughly chopped
- 1 onion,diced
- 1 red bell pepper,diced
- 3garlic cloves,minced
- 3cupsvegetable broth
- 1(14 ounce or 400 gram) cantomato sauce
- 1(14 ounce or 400 gram) candiced tomatoes
- 1 teaspooonsweet paprika
- ½teaspoonsmoked papkria (can sub more sweet paprika)
- ½teaspoondried thyme
- ½ teaspoondried oregano
- 2 tablespoonssoy sauce
- 2bay leaves
- 8ouncesuncooked elbow macaroni pasta(2 cups of of uncooked pasta)
- ¼cuptomato paste
- Salt and pepper,to taste
For Serving
- Cashew sour cream,or unflavored vegan yogurt
- Fresh parsley
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
Place the lentils into a small saucepan and cover them with a couple of inches of water.
Place the pot over high heat and bring the water to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer the lentils, uncovered until they're tender but not mushy, about 25 to 30 minutes. Add water to the pot if it dries up while simmering.
Drain the lentils into a colander and set them aside.
While the lentils cook, coat the bottom of a large pot with olive oil and place it over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the mushrooms.
Cook the mushrooms, flipping them once or twice, for about 5 minutes, until they begin to soften and brown.
Add the onion to the pot and cook it with the mushrooms for about 5 minutes more, until the onion is soft and translucent.
Add the bell pepper and garlic to the pot. Continue to sauté the mixture until the garlic becomes very fragrant, about 1 minute.
Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, tomatoes, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, soy sauce, bay leaves, and pasta. Raise heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower heat and allow everything to simmer until the pasta is al dente, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the lentils and tomato paste and allow everything to cook for about 2 more minutes, just to heat everything throughout and thicken the sauce.
Remove the pot from heat. Remove the bay leaves and season the goulash with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with vegan yogurt, cashew cream, and/or fresh parsley.
Recipe Notes
- Two cups of precooked lentils or one (15 ounce/400 gram) can can be substituted if desired. Skip steps 1 through 3 if you do this.
- Recipe makes about 9 cups.
Nutrition Facts
Vegan Goulash (American-Style!)
Amount Per Serving (1.5 cups)
Calories 341Calories from Fat 60
% Daily Value*
Fat 6.7g10%
Saturated Fat 1.1g6%
Sodium 1050mg44%
Potassium 1133mg32%
Carbohydrates 55.2g18%
Fiber 12.1g48%
Sugar 10.2g11%
Protein 16.8g34%
Calcium 50mg5%
Iron 5.2mg29%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Laura Kasparian saysAlissa, if you have any instant pot vegan recipes to share, I would much appreciate it!
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- Alissa Saenz says
I don't have an Instant Pot (yet!) but I have a few slow cooker recipes that I think would work in an instant pot. Here are a couple of my favorites:
https://www.connoisseurusveg.com/vegan-slow-cooker-jambalaya/
https://www.connoisseurusveg.com/slow-cooker-vegan-lasagna-soup/Reply
- Joyce says
I harvested so many tomatoes from our garden. This is a good/delicious way to use some of those tasty tomatoes. Thanks for sharing.
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- Alissa Saenz says
Absolutely! I hope you enjoy it!!
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- All That I'm Eating says
This sounds like a great idea, I love lentils and I bet with all those herbs and spices this is delicious.
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- Alissa Saenz says
Thank you!!
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- Tracie says
Oh my gosh, synchronicity! I was just thinking this morning about how to "veganize" my grandmother's Polish goulash recipe, and this recipe popped up! This sounds like an interesting take on goulash that I'll definitely have to try.
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- Alissa Saenz says
Oh awesome! I hope you enjoy it!!
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- Bethany says
It looks so thick and hearty and delicious!
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- Alissa Saenz says
Thank you!
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- Jane Zirin says
Alissa, I made the chickpea loaf recipe with some changes, mixed in some grey poupon mustard and some cumin and also added the mustard to the glaze..Delicious. Now I want to make for friend who is allergic to chickpeas, can i use pinto beans?
Thanks,janeReply
- Alissa Saenz says
Hi Jane! I think so, but I haven't tried it with pinto beans so I'm not totally sure. I do find then to be a bit softer than chickpeas, so if anything you might need to use a bit of extra breadcrumbs to firm up the mixture. I'd love to hear how it turns out if you try it!
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- Laura says
Would have been much better without the soy sauce. Gave it a weird umami flavor that competed against the paprika. Will try it again without the soy sauce.
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- Alissa Saenz says
Sorry you weren't a fan! I hope you like it better without the soy!
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- Lorraine K says
I just made this....delicious! I used only regular paprika, not the smoked. It also looks appetizing. I was pleased to see the addition of the soy sauce...I've been finding it adds a whole new level of flavour to recipes. I am not a huge fan of thyme, so I only used a dash. I have been wanting g to try a few new recipes, but still within the realm of flavours I like...And this one's a keeper!Reply
- Alissa Saenz says
I'm a big fan of using soy sauce to add savory flavor to my recipes! I'm so glad you enjoyed this! Thanks Lorraine!
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- Jen Allen says
This looks delicious and I would love to make it tonight for dinner, but not a fan of mushrooms so wondering what else I could sub.... Thoughts on larger chunks of zucchini and adding them later in the process so they don't overcook? Thanks so much for sharing the recipe :)
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- Alissa Saenz says
I think zucchini or even eggplant would be delicious! Maybe give zucchini 10 minutes and eggplant 15 if you try it. I'd love to hear how it works out!
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- Crystal says
I cooked the noodles separately for a no-carb friend, and so I left out the broth (but added a bouillon cube), and it was delicious! Non-vegans and children in my home didn’t miss the meat and happily finished their food.Thank you!Reply
- Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad it was a hit!! Thanks Crystal!
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- Teresa says
I made this for dinner last night. It was so tasty and comforting! Once I was finished eating I felt very cozy and relaxed. My husband enjoyed it as well, and I'm looking forward to eating the leftovers today.Reply
- Alissa Saenz says
Doesn't it just make you all warm inside!?! Hubby had the leftovers for lunch and seemed to think it worked well in leftover form!
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- DOREEN Fulton says
Haven't tried it yet, but going to make. We are new to the vegan life and I love trying new recipes. Thanks for this one. I loved it as a kid growing up, now w/o meat it should taste even better. Will keep you posted on the the out come. I will use fresh herbs and tomatoes. I have a garden.
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- Minda says
on the pasta...How do I measure this? 2cups in a measuring cup? or two cups by weight which is 16 ounces?
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- Alissa Saenz says
2 cups in a measuring cup. :)
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- M Hammerton says
Any suggestions on how to decrease the sodium for someone who is on a low sodium diet?
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- Alissa Saenz says
Try using low sodium broth, tomatoes and soy sauce. Enjoy!!
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- Valerie B. says
The joy in my husband's voice when I presented this goulash for dinner, was priceless.
Definitely a "keeper" recipe for this family.
Thank you.Reply
- Alissa Saenz says
That is awesome!! I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed it!
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- Allison says
Made this and loved it, and so did my picky 4-year-old!! Do you think it would be possible to make in a slow cooker? Thoughts on temp and cook time?
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- Alissa Saenz says
Yay! I'm glad you both enjoyed it! I do think it would work in a slow cooker! I'm thinking 4 hours on high or 8 on low, but keep an eye on it for sure the first time you try. And add the pasta towards the end - it should cook in about 10 to 15 minutes.
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- Miranda C says
This is a perfect recipe for exactly the flavor and comfort of a great goulash. I added some red pepper flakes because I love the flavor, but the recipe was spot on. I'm adding it to my permanent collection. 😂💖Thank you!Reply
- Alissa Saenz says
Awesome! I'm so glad you like it! Thanks Miranda!
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- Loretta says
Thank you for working this out, always wondered how it would work in V- land!Beloved 'Slumgullion' from childhood evokes warm Fall memoires and one of the first things I ever cooked.
Also appreciate that you don't take short cuts with the array of vegan 'meats'!
Thank you for the reminder that comfort can come in a skillet.
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- Lena says
This looks like a fantastic recipe. How do you think seitan or tofu would work?Reply
- Alissa Saenz says
Thank you! I think either would work well! I'd probably go with seitan over tofu - if you mince it very finely it can take on a ground beef-like texture.
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- Lena says
Thanks so much! Lol forward to trying!Reply
