Authentic German Goulash Soup Recipe (Gulaschsuppe)

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This Authentic German Goulash Soup recipe is so stinking good! It’s comforting and has complex flavors that balance out one another, like sweet, savory, sour, and subtle spices. Warm and meaty, it’s the perfect comfort food for the chilly months.

My husband can’t stop raving about this recipe. He kept saying that he hoped I wrote it down since I’m famous for adding things here and there. The good news is I did write it down!

If you’re looking for more German recipes, I’ve got you covered—check out my Beer and Cheese Soup and other traditional Oktoberfest recipes. Or, for a sweet treat, see my German grandmother’s Pfeffernusse Cookies recipe.

Back in 1987, I was an au pair in West Berlin, Germany, living with a dear family. The wife was a fantastic cook and baker, and she taught me how to make many German dishes, including this traditional German Goulash Soup.

Speaking of Oktoberfest, we are right in the middle of the celebration! This year, the German Bavarian autumn festival began on September 17th and will conclude on October 3rd. It’s the perfect time to share with you this authentic Gulaschsuppe recipe rooted in German culture!

Key Ingredients

Ingredients, directions and nutritional information in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

• Butter and olive oil | Butter and olive oil are used to caramelize the vegetables and brown the meat for this traditional German soup.
• Beef | Savory and tender beef brings a heartiness to this recipe. I like to use steak tips from ButcherBox, I love this company-ethical, clean, sustainable meat! However, you can also use stew meat or chuck roast, cut up.
• Onion, Carrots & Celery | Freshly diced veggies are classic, adding subtle sweetness and additional flavor to the soup.
• Bell peppers | If you can’t tell yet, this soup is very well-rounded with all sorts of flavors, a little savory and sweet. You can use whatever combination of yellow, green, or red bell pepper you prefer.
• Red potatoes | Making this soup with red potatoes makes it more of a complete meal. It also adds a little bit of starchy texture and doubles as a thickener.
• Garlic cloves | Freshly minced garlic cloves lend subtle, spicy, and nutty notes to this German Goulash recipe.
• Tomato paste | Tomato paste brings a burst of acidic tomato flavor and helps to thicken the stew-like soup.
• Sweet paprika and Hot paprika | Further balancing out the complex flavors, both sweet and hot paprika powder are added to the recipe. They bring a subtle heat and rich smokiness to the overall taste. Hot paprika is optional if you prefer to keep the recipe mild without a kick of spice, but doesn’t make it too spicy.
• Marjoram & Caraway seeds | This herb tastes like oregano but is a little sweeter and more complex in flavor. Caraway brings a hint of nuttiness – and an authentic German flavor.
• Dry red wine | Most Goulash soups call for sour ingredients, like lemon juice or, in this case, dry red wine.
• Beef broth | Savory beef broth is the perfect fluid base for this traditional soup. While simmering, the broth seeps into the beef and vegetables, blending the flavors. If you have it, use homemade bone broth for deeper, richer flavor!

How to Make This Authentic German Goulash Soup Recipe

Step 1 | Gather and Chop

To start, get everything prepped and ready to go—this recipe will come together quickly. So, it helps to have the meat cut into 1-inch cubes, and the vegetables washed and diced. Also, measure out the rest of the ingredients.

Now take out a large soup pot or Dutch oven and melt the butter over medium heat and then add the oil.

Step 2 | Putting the Veggies In

Toss your onions, carrots, peppers, celery, and a little bit of kosher salt and black pepper into the pot. Stir the veggies frequently, turning down the heat if needed, as you sauté.

Once the veggies are soft and caramelized, stir in the paprikas, garlic, tomato paste, marjoram, and caraway. Then, remove the cooked vegetable mixture to a medium bowl and set it aside for later.

Step 3 | Brown the Meat

Next, increase to medium-high heat and add a small pat of butter or a little swirl of olive oil, if necessary. This next step may be most successful in batches.

Without crowding the meat, brown both sides quickly. Remove that batch and do the second batch of meat. Then, remove the browned meat to a plate.

Step 4 | Deglazing the Pan

With the juices and all those bits of tender veggies and meat sticking to the bottom of the pan, it is time to deglaze. Add the 2 cups of wine to the pot and scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.

If you prefer not to use wine, use additional beef broth and 2-4 tablespoons of dill pickle juice or try a little red wine vinegar.

Step 5 | Make Gulaschsuppe

Pour in the beef broth and return the vegetables and beef to the pot.

Next, carefully drop in the potatoes and bay leaves and bring to a simmer.

Now you are going to let that simmer covered for 2-2 ½ hours. Be sure to stir it occasionally. If even thicker goulash is desired, smash a few potatoes on the side of the pot, stirring in and remove lid from pot and simmer 15-20 minutes longer.

Finally, serve with a sprinkle of paprika, a little chopped parsley, some rustic bread, rye bread, or even these traditional Bavarian pretzels. Come to think of it, Sweet Molasses Brown Bread Rolls might be nice too!

It’s so delicious!

Toppings

As mentioned, I like to serve this traditional soup with a sprinkle of paprika and some chopped parsley. You can add a dollop of sour cream or red pepper flakes.

Variations & Substitutions

• Most traditional goulash soup recipes include an ingredient that will add some sour flavor. In my recipe, I use dry red wine for this purpose. However, other variations use lemon juice, red wine vinegar, or other vinegars.
• If you can’t get your hands on marjoram, you can substitute it with another herb, like sage, bay leaves, or oregano.
• Hot paprika isn’t always easy to locate. In this case, you can add cayenne pepper instead.
• Add egg noodles, elbow macaroni noodles, or another type of pasta to make the extra soup filling.
• No beef broth? No problem—use water and a beef bouillon cube (one cube/teaspoon per cup of water) or beef stock in its place
• Some Germans like to add ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream as a final ingredient to make the soup creamier and even more comforting.
• Use tomato sauce instead of tomato paste for a milder tomato flavor and less thick consistency. You can also use tomato puree if you prefer.

Storage Tips

Refrigerate for Later | While this traditional Hungarian Goulash soup can be served immediately, it may be wise to refrigerate it for a day or two before serving. When the soup sits, the flavors continue melding and become further incorporated with one another, making a delicious taste. In an airtight container, the soup should last up to four days in the refrigerator.

Store in the Freezer | German Goulash soup is an excellent meal to store away in the freezer for a later date. Plus, it is easy to reheat on the stovetop, making for a quick and hassle-free weeknight dinner.

This authentic German goulash soup recipe has many variations, like the American goulash! It differs from the German recipe by using ground beef, elbow macaroni, Worcestershire sauce, or soy sauce.

American goulash is typically topped with cheddar or parmesan cheese. Perhaps I’ll try out some of the other types of goulash later this year.

More delicious dinner recipes

• Dutch Oven Beef Stew {or Slow Cooker}
• Outback Potato Soup Recipe (Slow Cooker or Stovetop)
• Bread and Butter Pot Roast
• Italian Braised Short Ribs
• Best Cheesesteak Sandwich Recipe

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