Easy Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot (2024)

By: Author Tressa Jamil

Posted on - Last updated:

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Austrian goulash features boneless short ribs cooked Viennese-style in a paprika-spiced gravy until the meat is fork-tender. The recipe uses anInstant Potand traditional ingredients to infuse the dish with rich flavor, making it the ultimate comfort meal.

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Easy Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot (1)

Table Of Contents

  1. What is Goulash and Where Does it Come From?
  2. Ingredients You'll Need
  3. How to Make Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot
  4. Can I Make This Recipe on the Stovetop?
  5. Expert Tips
  6. Serving Suggestions
  7. What to do with the Leftovers
  8. Frequently Asked Questions
  9. Austrian Goulash

What is Goulash and Where Does it Come From?

The term ‘goulash’ dates back to the 9th century Hungary; it’s said to have been eaten by shepherds while they went to pasture with the sheep. The dish has transformed overtime, with most of the world creating their own version of the dish.

Like the original goulash from Hungary, Austrian goulash is known for its thick, bright-colored gravy, attributed to the heavy use of paprika to flavor the dish. Onions slow cook to build a perfect base for the beef to become tender.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Paprika: Responsible for the bright color, paprika is the primary flavor, and you’ll love the combination of sweet and hot paprika. For best results, use fresh Hungarian-sourced paprika. If you only can only purchase one, make it sweet paprika and add a teaspoon of cayenne to balance the sweetness. Check out this article for more information about thedifferent types of paprikaand how to use them.
  • Boneless Short Rib: The tenderness of the short rib as it cooks down in the gravy is unrivaled, so if you can find it on sale-go for it! However, chuck roast is a more affordable. option.
  • Butter: Sauté the onions and impart flavor using butter.
  • Onion: Traditional Austrian Goulash doesn’t use flour or roux, so onions thicken the gravy beautifully, resulting in a rich and concentrated flavor.
  • Caraway Seed:Caraway seeds provide a peppery-citrus finish.
  • Garlic: I suggest using two cloves, but don’t let my recipe tell you how much garlic to use – measure with your heart!
  • Better Than Bouillon: I use Better Than Bouillon and water in place of stock. It’s flavorful, easy, and something I always keep in my pantry.
  • Tomato Paste: Use tomato paste to thicken and flavor the stew.
  • Bay Leaves: Subtly flavor the dish with clove-like aromatics.
  • Fresh Dill: Dill compliments the beef and caraway. You may want to leave it out, but don’t! Make it as is, and enjoy the tasty combination of rich gravy and bright, fresh dill.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar provides the right amount of acidity to highlight the richness of the gravy.
  • Sour Cream: Garnish with sour cream.

How to Make Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot

The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Combine one tablespoon of sweet paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl; then, coat the beef with the mixture and set it aside.

Easy Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot (2)

Step 2: Melt butter in anInstant Pot on saute mode. Add onion and cook until they have a nice caramelized brown color and soften; this step will take up to 30 minutes, but you’re building flavor!

Easy Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot (3)

Step 3: Stir in the caraway seeds and minced garlic. Then, add hot paprika and the remaining five tablespoons of sweet paprika.

Easy Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot (4)

Step 4: Slowly whisk in the water, Better than Bouillon, tomato paste, and simmer on saute mode.

Easy Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot (5)

Step 5: Next, add the reserved beef and bay leaves. Secure the lid on theInstant Potand cook on manual high pressure for 60 minutes with a 20-minute natural release.

Easy Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot (6)

Step 6: Let stand for 5-10 minutes. Deglaze with apple cider vinegar, finish with fresh dill, and stir to combine.

Garnish with more dill and sour cream. Serve with buttery egg noodles or mashed cauliflower for a lighter meal.

Can I Make This Recipe on the Stovetop?

You don’t have an Instant Pot, but want to make this recipe? No worries, I’ve got you covered. Check out our recipe for stovetoprindsgulasch.It has all the same ingredients but slow cooks in a Dutch oven.

Expert Tips

  • No flour or roux thickens the gravy in traditional Austrian goulash recipes. Instead, onion creates a thick and flavorful base for the beef to cook. We follow the same method, and the onions can take 30-45 minutes to caramelize, but it’s worth the wait!
  • Traditionally, this recipe requires slow-cooking beef until tender. However, using the Instant Pot significantly cuts the time to 1 hour and 20 minutes, compared to the 3 hours needed for the Dutch ovenrindsgulasch. Despite the wait, the beef is still tender and flavorful, making it a worthwhile meal.

If you enjoy this meal, try one of these soup and stew recipes!

Easy Beef Stroganoff

Zuppa Toscana Instant Pot Copycat

Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast

Chikhirtma

Serving Suggestions

  • Egg Noodles, TraditionalSpätzle, Nockerl, Austrian Gnocchi
  • Mashed Potatoes, Boiled Potatoes, Roasted Potatoes, Potato Pancake
  • Mashed Cauliflower
  • White Rice, Quinoa
  • Semmel Knoedel (Bread Dumplings), Kaiser Roll
  • Sauerkraut

What to do with the Leftovers

  • Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
  • Freeze: I recommend freezing the meat and gravy separately and preparing fresh noodles when you’re ready to eat it again. Let the dish cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Austrian goulash freezes for 3 months.
  • Thaw: Defrost the goulash in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Reheat: Warm leftovers on the stovetop and prepare your sides.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s in goulash?

Authentic Austrian goulash consists of beef shank cooked with caramelized onion and traditional goulash seasoning, like marjoram, paprika, and caraway.

What cut of beef is used for goulash?

The best meat for goulash is one with a lot of collagen and fat, making it perfect for pressure-cooked or slow-braised stews like this one. Beef shank is the most popular cut to make Austrian goulash. However, I love the outcome of using boneless short rib, especially if you can find it on sale; thank you, Whole Foods! Chuck roast works well in this recipe and is much more affordable, so you have some options.

What is the difference between Hungarian and Austrian goulash?

The base of the two is similar and uses the same seasoning. However, Hungarian goulash often includes vegetables like potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, peppers, and tomatoes, whereas Austrian goulash contains only beef and onions.

More International Dinner Ideas:

  • Chili Con Carne with Beans
  • Beef and Chickpea Stew
  • Vegetable Beef Stew
  • Beef Stew Recipes

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Easy Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot (11)

Austrian Goulash

Tressa Jamil

Austrian goulash features boneless short ribs cooked Viennese-style in a paprika-spiced gravy until the meat is fork-tender.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Austrian

Servings 8 Servings

Calories 755 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons sweet paprika, divided
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, coarse ground
  • 5 pounds boneless short rib, cut into 1½- inch pieces
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 large yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons caraway seeds
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon hot paprika
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon beef Better Than Bouillion
  • ½ cup tomato paste
  • 3 bay leaves
  • ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 package egg noodles, cooked according to package
  • sour cream, for garnish

Instructions

  • Combine one tablespoon of sweet paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl; then, coat the beef with the mixture and set it aside.

  • In anInstant Pot, melt butter on saute mode. Add onion and cook until they have a nice caramelized brown color and soften; this step will take up to 30 minutes, but you're building flavor!

  • Stir in the caraway seeds and minced garlic. Then, add hot paprika and the remaining five tablespoons of sweet paprika. Cook for about 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant.

  • Slowly whisk in the water, Better than Bouillon, tomato paste, and then simmer on saute mode.

  • Next, add the reserved beef and bay leaves. Secure the lid on theInstant Potand cook on manual high pressure for 60 minutes with a 20-minute natural release.

  • Let stand for 5-10 minutes. Deglaze with apple cider vinegar, finish with fresh dill, and stir to combine.

  • Garnish with more dill and sour cream. Serve with buttery egg noodles or cauliflower mash for a lighter meal.

Notes

Adapted:

  • This is based on a recipe from Milkstreet I simply had to try! I have a Dutch oven version that is similar to the original if you prefer cooking on the stove-top or oven.

Expert Tips:

  • No flour or roux thickens the gravy in traditional Austrian Goulash recipes. Instead, onion creates a thick and flavorful base for the beef to cook. We follow the same method, and the onions can take 30-45 minutes to caramelize, but it’s worth the wait!
  • Traditionally, this recipe requires slow-cooking beef until tender. However, using the Instant Pot significantly cuts the time to 1 hour and 20 minutes, compared to the 3 hours needed for the Dutch oven Rindsgulasch. Despite the wait, the beef is still tender and flavorful, making it a worthwhile meal.

Nutrition Disclosure:

  • The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 755 kcal | Carbohydrates: 41 g | Protein: 62 g | Fat: 37 g | Saturated Fat: 17 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15 g | Cholesterol: 218 mg | Sodium: 965 mg | Potassium: 1498 mg | Fiber: 5 g | Sugar: 5 g | Vitamin A: 3160 IU | Vitamin C: 8 mg | Calcium: 84 mg | Iron: 9 mg

Did you make this recipe? Let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and follow @thejamilghar or tag #thejamilghar on Instagram!

Easy Austrian Goulash in the Instant Pot (2024)
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