Vegan Goulash

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Nothing takes me back to my childhood like this goulash. If you grew up on this meaty pasta meal, you will find that this one tastes so much like it!

Cooking this savory meatless goulash is so effortless as it doesn’t involve hovering around the stove or heavy prep work.

It’s a quick meal that easily comes together into an irresistibly thick casserole-type of consistency. 

This is most definitely the ultimate comfort food, yet completely veganized!

This big, one-pot wonder is perfect for potlucks, meal-trains, meal-prep, or for simply filling a bunch of hungry bellies!

Something special about this dish is that the beef that is usually used in the traditional recipe is replaced with mushrooms. Although, you can easily swap them for vegan beef or vegan sausage if you’re not a fan of mushrooms.

They are sautéed with the aromatic flavors of onions and garlic before adding the rest of the ingredients. The texture of nutritious mushrooms make quite the hearty bite.

For more comforting vegan meals, be sure to try my Beef Stroganoff, Hamburger Helper, Skillet Lasagna, Brunswick Stew, Stuffed Peppers, Cajun Dirty Rice, Salisbury Steak, Dumpling Stew, and Baked Spaghetti.

Reasons You’ll Love This American Chop Suey

• Kids love it 
• Just one pot
• No meat, no dairy
• Perfect for meal-prep
• Quick, hearty, and comforting
• So easy to make in just a few steps

Get updates on my latest recipes sent right to your inbox! Click Here To Subscribe To My Email List!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Oil – Just a little olive oil or avocado oil is used to sauté the onions and garlic in. A small amount of water can be used instead if you would like to make this an oil-free meal.
• Aromatics & Seasoning – White onion, garlic, and a few other spices create an incredibly nostalgic flavor profile. Any other type of onion works too. We also add a little brown sugar to balance out some of the tang from the tomato.
• Meat Replacement – Mushrooms and Worcestershire sauce create a perfect meat replacement. Make sure the Worcestershire sauce is vegan, by checking that the ingredients don’t include anchovies.
• Tomato – Canned tomato sauce and diced tomatoes create a tangy and rich sauce.
• Broth – So much flavor is added in with bouillon plus water or low-sodium vegetable broth.
• Noodles – Elbow macaroni or any type of pasta you have works here. Gluten-free or whole-wheat pasta can easily be used instead.
• Vegan Cheese – Vegan cheddar shreds add a tasty, cheesy texture to this easy goulash. I like to use Violife brand here because of its delicious flavor and how easily it melts.
• Herbs – Garnish your pasta with fresh herbs such as cilantro, basil, or parsley. My favorite is cilantro here. Yum!!

How To Make Vegan American-Style Goulash

Here are some quick visual steps. Find the full recipe with exact measurements on the recipe card below.

Sauté the onions, mushrooms, and garlic in a large pot.

Add in everything except for the pasta and cheddar shreds. Let it cook (and thicken) for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Toss in the uncooked pasta, stir it into the mixture, and cover the pot. Revisit the goulash every so often to give it a good stir. Cook it until the pasta is tender.

Take the goulash off the heat and mix in the vegan cheddar.

Garnish this tasty vegetable goulash with fresh herbs and enjoy! Note that it will thicken as it cools.

Recipe Variation Ideas

• Use gluten-free, whole wheat, or any pasta you have on hand. 
• Increase the protein with tofu, lentils, soy curls, seitan, or chickpeas.
• Make it spicy by adding fresh jalapeños, cayenne, or red pepper flakes.
• Sauté the onions in 2 tablespoons of water to make this an oil-free dish.
• Mix in extra veggies like carrots, peas, bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach.
• Swap the mushrooms with jackfruit, vegan ground beef, or vegan sausage.
• Add vegan sour cream or nutritional yeast at the end of the cooking process for extra creaminess.

Storage And Reheating

This is a great make-ahead meal! It can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it cool down before storing it in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer.

Reheat the refrigerated goulash in the microwave or on the stovetop. If frozen, let it thaw out in the refrigerator overnight, before reheating it. You might want to add a little bit of water as you’re reheating it if it’s too thick.

More Vegan Classic Comfort Dishes To Try!

I hope you loved this recipe! If you try it, please let me know what you think with a rating and comment below. Your feedback really supports my blog and is helpful to other readers! 🙂 You can stay updated on my latest recipes by following me on Pinterest and joining my Email List.

Pin It For Later!