Vegan Goulash

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

This quick meal easily comes together into an irresistibly thick casserole-type of consistency. 

It’s the ultimate comfort food and completely veganized!

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!

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.

They are 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.

Reasons You’ll Love this Recipe

• Kids love it 
• Just one pot
• No meat, no dairy
• Perfect for meal-prep
• 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

• Olive Oil – Just a little 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 the ingredients for 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!!

Step-By-Step Instructions

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

Cut the onions, garlic, and mushrooms.

Heat a large pot over medium heat before adding the olive oil. Then sauté the onions, mushrooms, and garlic for about 5 minutes. The mushrooms will release some liquid here and this is good because it helps them cook down and has so much flavor. 

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 for 15 minutes or 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

• Add vegan ground meat, tofu, jackfruit, lentils, or chickpeas.
• Use gluten-free, whole wheat, or any pasta you have on hand. 
• 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.
• Add vegan sour cream or nutritional yeast at the end of the cooking process for extra creaminess.

Make-Ahead or Leftovers

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

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.

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.