Goulash Soup
Goulash Soup has ground beef, roasted red peppers, cabbage and plenty of paprika, and this soup is delicious and low in carbs! And personally, I highly recommend serving the Goulash Soup with plenty of sour cream to add at the table.
PIN Goulash Soup to try it later!
This Goulash Soup that has ground beef, roasted red peppers, and cabbage with two kinds of paprika is a favorite soup recipe I’ve been making for many years. I love Hungarian flavors, and if you use Hungarian paprika this recipe is reminiscent of Hungarian Gulyas but without potatoes and other higher-carb veggies.
And I’m of the opinion that lots of paprika is essential in a soup like this! And of course I love cabbage, so the added cabbage in this soup is just a plus for me!
This soup recipe is made on the stove but if you prefer using the Instant Pot or are not such a cabbage fan, Instant Pot Goulash Soup has similar flavors without the cabbage, and that one also uses lots of paprika!
What ingredients do you need to make this?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions.)
- onions
- Minced Garlic (affiliate link)
- Olive Oil (affiliate link)
- Szeged Sweet Paprika (affiliate link), or other sweet paprika
- Szeged Hot Paprika (affiliate link), or other hot paprika
- crushed caraway seeds (affiliate link), optional
- homemade Beef Stock or canned beef broth (affiliate link)
- Better Than Bouillon Beef Base (affiliate link) or other beef flavor base
- canned diced tomatoes
- cabbage, or use coleslaw mix
- lean ground beef
- Roasted Red Peppers in a jar (affiliate link)
- sour cream for serving, optional but highly recommended
Want to save time when making Goulash Soup?
When we made this soup recently to improve the photos, I hit upon the idea of using package coleslaw mix instead of cabbage. That made the work of chopping up the cabbage a bit faster!
What kind of Paprika did I use for the Goulash Soup?
I used both sharp and sweet paprika in the soup and I prefer Szeged Paprika (affiliate link), but any Hungarian paprika will be good. You can probably get by with only sweet paprika, especially if you’re making it for kids; maybe add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you only use sweet paprika.
How low in carbs is this Goulash Soup?
This tasty soup with Hungarian flavors has about 9 net carbs per serving.
Want more soups with Cabbage?
Check out Low-Carb and Keto Soups with Cabbage for more tasty soups like this one!
How to make Goulash Soup:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Chop the onion. Heat olive oil in the soup pot and cook onions for about 2 minutes or until they are starting to brown, then add Minced Garlic (affiliate link) and cook about 2 minutes more.
- If you’re using the optional caraway seed, grind it a bit with a mortar and pestle or crush with a heavy mallet or knife. Add the paprika and caraway seed to the browned onions and garlic and cook a minute or two more.
- Add ground beef to soup pot and cook until it’s nicely browned.
- Add beef stock or broth to the soup pot, then add tomatoes, cabbage or cole slaw mix, and water to the soup pot and start to simmer.
- Let the soup simmer 30-40 minutes.
- Then drain the roasted red peppers, chop into pieces, then add to the soup.
- Taste for seasoning, and add more paprika if needed.
- Let soup simmer another 30-40 minutes.
- Serve hot, preferably with sour cream added at the table.
- This soup freezes especially well, and I’d love to pull a container of it out of the freezer on a cold night!
More Recipes with Roasted Red Peppers:
Weekend Food Prep:
This recipe for tasty Goulash Soup has been added to a category called Weekend Food Prep where you’ll find recipes you can prep or cook on the weekend and eat during the week!
Goulash Soup
This low-carb Goulash Soup has ground beef, roasted red peppers, cabbage, and two kinds of Hungarian Paprika, and this soup is really delicious and low in carbs!
Ingredients
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 T finely minced garlic
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 T sweet Hungarian Paprika
- 1 T hot Hungarian Paprika (or less, to taste)
- 1/2 tsp. crushed caraway seed (optional)
- 6 cups homemade beef stock (see notes)
- 2 T beef flavor base, preferably Better than Bouillon
- 2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes (see notes)
- 3 cups finely diced cabbage (see notes)
- 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beefย
- 1 12 oz. jar roasted red peppers, diced into 1 inch pieces
- sour cream for serving; optional but highly recommended
Instructions
- Heat large soup pot, add oil, and cook chopped onions about 2 minutes, until barely starting to color.
- Add garlic and saute 2 minutes more, then add paprika (and caraway if using) and saute 1 minute more.
- Add ground beef to pot and cook until beef is nicely browned.
- Add beef stock and beef flavor base to soup pot. Add canned tomatoes, cabbage and 2 cups water to soup pot and start to simmer.
- Let the soup simmer on very low heat for 30-40 minutes.
- Taste for seasoning and add more paprika if desired. I personally think you can never have too much paprika in a soup like this.
- Then add diced red peppers and simmer about 30-40 minutes more. Serve hot, garnished with sour cream if desired.
- This freezes very well.
Notes
I'm a fan of Szeged Paprika (affiliate link) but any Hungarian paprika will be good in a soup like this.
If you don't have homemade beef stock just use 5 cans of beef broth, 14 oz. each and a bit of water.
Recipe created by Kalyn.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 217Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 3gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 50mgSodium 360mgCarbohydrates 12gFiber 3gSugar 6gProtein 20g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
This flavorful Goulash Soup is good for low-carb diets, although maybe a bit high in carbs for strict Keto. If it’s made with lean ground beef and served with low fat sour cream, this is a great soup for any phase of the original South Beach Diet.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Soup Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalynโs Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes Iโm sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This Goulash Soup recipe was posted in 2006, and since then I have made it many times for my annual soup party on New Year’s Day. It was updated with better photos and more information in 2021 and last updated with more information in 2025.
66 Comments on “Goulash Soup”
Made this for my parents when I visited them over the holidays. My dad swears he hates cabbage but he loved this soup!
I added about a teaspoon and a half of cayenne to make it a bit spicier and it complimented it really well.
So glad to hear that everyone enjoyed it; thanks for letting me know! And I like the idea of spicing it up a bit.
Your recipe says it yields 6 servings, and the nutritional information says 8. Which is accurate.
Oh man, I HATE it when I make mistakes like this. Eight servings is correct. I will fix it right now. Thanks for letting me know.
Made this tonight and was very leary. But it was so good!!! Made the stove top version, added diced celery, 2 C diced cabbage and only 2 T smokey paprika. Topped with a few sprinkles of grated parm. Will definitely make again!
So glad you enjoyed it!
This soup recipe looks so good! I so love soups as this makes me hungry. Thanks for sharing this recipe by the way!
Hi Kalyn
I’m new to soup making. When you say 2 T paprika, is that 2 tablespoons?
thanks
Simon
Yes, in my recipes T = tablespoon and tsp. = teaspoon.
Good luck with the soup!
This soup is perfect! I’ll absolutely try this one tomorrow. Perfect!
No worries Kalyn…never enough soup recipes…for the cool and rainy NW…;o)
Yes, that’s true iately as well!
This is one of the best soups ever.
I like to make it with cubed up beef instead of ground.
For the last batch I was lazy and used already cut up stir fry beef and a jar of roasted red peppers that were already cut in strips.
The only thing I had to cut was the onions and the cabbage.
Talk about convenient.
To me the flavor of the paprika and peppers is what makes this dish.
So glad you are enjoying it; love how you made it so easy!
This soup/ghoulash was absolutely exceptional without a doubt. I love your recipes, thank you for sharing and all you do!
Thanks Carolyn; so glad you enjoyed it!
Planning to make this but I am confused about – 1 T – 1 tablespoon?
I can't wait to try it. Thank you!!
Yes T = tablespoon and tsp. = teaspoon. Hope you enjoy!
Thanks so much for this. I used some Czech Gulรกลก spices my daughter brought to us for Christmas, and it worked out well (it's a mixture of paprika and salt and other spices I need to translate. It's a great recipe – for those interested, mine made 10 cups at about 150 calories per cup. Delicious, filling and warming at this time of year.
Ann, so glad you enjoyed it. And I am intrigued by the sound of that spice mix!
Would you freeze this after everything has been cooked? Or before simmering for the hour?
Good question! If I knew I was planning to freeze I think I'd add the peppers and just simmer 10-15 minutes and then freeze it. Then simmer for a few minutes when you reheat the soup.
Nurse Jen, so glad you enjoyed it And I'd never object to adding cumin, love it!
Only a year late! This is amazing, Kalyn. Would have never suspected such simple ingredients could be so good. I used all hot paprika and 1-2 t cumin because I love the combination. Thanks again! Nurse Jen in NYC
Stellagram, wishing you the best of luck with that goal, and I hope my recipes will be helpful. You can do it!
Thank you, Kaylyn. I appreciate the prompt response. Hubby and I are hoping the South Beach diet can help us lose a combined 150 pounds, so I think I will be a regular visitor to your site!
Stellagram, so sorry I was not clear. I have edit to include the link for homemade roasted tomatoes and specify 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes and 14 oz. cans beef broth. Hope you enjoy!
Planning to make this but I am confused about the tomato amounts. Are the roasted tomatoes available canned or are you roasting them yourself? And if canned, what size can? Would that size apply to the diced tomatoes as well? Sorry – I am new at this!!!
Katie, that is so odd. Why wouldn't they want to send it to France?
Nothing like a hot, spicy soup on a cold winter night. I love paprika, too – my favorite seasoning that goes in everything. Can't get Hungarian here, though LOL
Happy New Year!
My mom in Germany used to make Gulasch soup when lots of my parents friends came to visit. New Years eve was one of the occasions I remember. I make Gulasch all the time, but somehow have never made Gulasch soup for my family. Thanks for the reminder, Kalyn.
Looks and sounds great!
(I am always careful when something's "low-fat" – there's often starch or other carbs involved, at least around here.)
Thanks Kathy, so glad you liked it!
Just made this last week, and even though I didn't have any caraway seed, it still tasted awesome!! Definitely a keeper!
Cheryl, I love hearing that!
Kalyn, I am once again making a delicious pot of soup using a recipe from your site. Tonight it's Goulash Soup with Red Peppers and Cabbage. Your wonderful website has completely changed how I eat lunch! Rather than make a sandwich (boring!) or a salad (leaves me hungry!) I make a delicious pot of soup on Sunday and have it for lunch all week. It packs easily and makes my colleagues at the high school where I work jealous! On Friday I freeze the rest in lunch-size portions so on the busy weeks when I can't make a pot of soup, I have a whole menu of soups to choose from! Thank you for giving me a healthful and convenient way to eat!
I can't believe that I'm just finding this recipe. My husband & I lived on Goulash Soup, crusty Kaiser rolls & beer when we were in Austria. I can't wait to try it. Thank you!!
Beef broth is fine, and you need enough to make 4 cups, which will be take 3 cans, 14 oz. each. (And you will have a little left over after you measure 4 cups.)
Kalyn, really looking forward to trying this goulash. Question about the beef stock, can I use beef broth? When you say say '3 cans', what size cans? Thank you.
Joelle, so glad you are enjoying it!
Fabulous, each time! Thank you Kalyn's.
Frugal momma, I think regular paprika with a couple of good pinches of cayenne would be closer to the flavor of hot paprika.
I don't have hot paprika but I do have some of the Penzey's smoked paprika–do you think that would be a good substitute? Or would adding more regular paprika and cayenne be better?
I love the idea of using kohlrabi for potatoes; thanks for sharing that!
I'm Hungarian and I love that you adapted this recipe for SB, which I'm doing right now. Something I've done for years to replace the potatoes with kohlrabi.
I think this could be made in the crockpot by omitting the water and maybe even cutting down on the beef stock. I'd follow the recipe as written, but put ingredients in the crockpot and add 3 cups stock. If the other ingredients were all covered that might be enough liquid. Let me know how it works if you try it.
We made a double batch tonight and it was incredible!! Had to up the paprika and add some cayenne for our palates, and we sliced the cabbage rather than dicing it, but otherwise it was perfect.
Do you have reccomendations for making this in the crock pot? It may not be worth it since I'd want to brown the meat and onions anyway, but I'd appreciate your advice.
Kathy, wow, thanks for that vote of confidence. So glad to hear you and your husband are enjoying the recipes.
Had this tonight for dinner and it was delicious. I have been cooking so many of your recipes and love them all. My husband said, "Where are you getting all of these good recipes?" Now he is a huge fan and looks forward to the next one.
Look at those jewels- the color of this rich soup is beautiful!
That looks delicious! I've been trying to eat healthier lately, thanks a lot!!
Kalyn
Soup looks great. You Egg Muffins were a huge hit with the husband. Loving it. Thanks. I posted with due credits to you
Anonymous, it sounds to me like you need to read the book if you're asking this type of question. I recommend getting one at a thrift store and reading it so you understand why the diet works. Basically South Beach doesn't control portions that strictly on foods that are "good carbs" and "good fat". It's more about choosing the right types of food, then eating until you feel full. A few very calorie dense foods are limited (like nuts, avocados, oils) but for most things you should eat enough to feel full, eating three meals and two snacks every day for phase one.
I have a question…I am starting SBD today! Your blog has been wonderful! I made the vegetable quiche cups for breakfast…How many are you suppose to have for bf? Just 1? How often do you space your meals and snacks?
I'm part Hungarian, so the thought of this soup is enough to make my stomach growl. Great, rich flavors – I'm going to mark this for my next head of cabbage.
I've got a good goulash recipe and I can tell I would like yours better. Looks fabulous Kalyn. You arrived in Denver yesterday, darnit.
Such a pretty and soup and I like the addition of two kinds of paprika. I would be thrilled to have several containers of this in my freezer.
Goulash is one of my all time favorite dishes, without the noodles, of course. This soup satisfies a craving for goulash in so many ways! Thanks for the update, Kalyn.
yum…cabbage is so good in soups!
Im no cook, but I tried this recipe and loved it. Thanx
This sounds so good. I believe I’ll try it next week . . .
Goulash is one of the best soups around and your rendition looks delicious, Kalyn! It has suddenly got very cold in Edinburgh, so I’ll be cooking hearty stews and soups for the next week. You’ve definitely inspired me to do something goulash-y.
BTW – I don’t think there is a definite agreement regarding potatoes&goulash anyway, so you don’t have to worry about that!
Yes wonderful soup. You also might want to try mixing in some eggplant that’s been sauted and blended to a smooth consistency.
I love this kind of soup. Good for you and great tasting.
What a lovely color!
Impressed? You bet! Haven’t seen any spilled beans yet however ๐