Goulash is a traditional Hungarian dish known for its rich flavor and creamy texture. It is made with beef, vegetables, and paprika, a spice that gives it its signature color and aroma.

In this Weight Watchers-friendly version of goulash, we’ve made some adjustments to keep it light and flavorful. First, we’ve replaced potatoes with zucchini, a low-calorie and carbohydrate vegetable. Second, we’ve reduced the amount of meat to a quarter of what is typically used.

The result is a comforting and satisfying meal that’s perfect for a chilly day.

Goulash served in a bowl
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Why you should try Goulash

  • Goulash is a delicious and satisfying dish. It’s consistently ranked among the top 100 recipes in the world, and for good reason. The combination of meat, vegetables, and paprika creates an irresistible flavor that will leave you wanting more.
  • It’s a comforting dish perfect for winter. Its creamy texture and intense flavor will warm you up and keep you feeling satisfied until dinner.
  • It’s a healthy option for Weight Watchers followers. Each serving of goulash with zucchini has only 2 Weight Watchers points, making it a guilt-free way to enjoy a delicious and nutritious meal.

Ingredients

Goulash Ingredients
  • 2 cups diced zucchini (300 g)
  • 1 cup diced carrots (150 g)
  • 1 cup cubed beef (200 g)
  • 1 cup diced onions (150 g)
  • 1 cup grated tomato (200 g)
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (for thickening)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1/2 cup diced celery (about 60 g)
  • 1 cup tomato passata

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 2 hours

Servings: 5

Serving size: 400 g.

Instructions for making Goulash

zucchini, carrots, beef, and onions in sauce pan

1. Dice the zucchini, carrots, beef, and onions into uniform pieces. Grate the tomato and measure the required amount.

Brown the beef in the hot oil

2. In a large pot, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Toss the cubed beef in flour to coat lightly. Brown the beef in the hot oil until all sides are seared. Remove and set aside.

zucchini, carrots, and celery in brown beef pan

3. In the same pot, add diced onions and sauté until translucent. Add diced zucchini, carrots, and celery. Sauté until vegetables are slightly tender.

tomato and cook until it forms a thick mixture

4. Stir in grated tomato and cook until it forms a thick mixture. Pour in the tomato passata, stirring well to combine.  Season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Adjust to taste.

5. Return the browned beef to the pot. Pour in the beef broth, ensuring it covers the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cover and let it cook for about 1.5 to 2 hours or until the meat is tender.

Goulash served in a bowl

6. If needed, mix a tablespoon of flour with a bit of water and stir into the goulash to thicken the broth. Serve it hot, optionally garnishing with fresh herbs or a dollop of sour cream.

Variations and substitutions

Goulash is a versatile dish that can be adapted to different tastes and needs. Here are a few ideas for varying the recipe:

Marinated chicken breast
  • Use chicken breast instead of beef. Chicken breast is a lean and low-calorie meat that will give it a flavor and texture similar to traditional goulash.
  • Create a vegetarian goulash. To do this, replace the meat with mushrooms or portobellos. The result is a vegan and delicious soup or stew.

Tips and Tricks Section for making Goulash  

  • If you have a crockpot, use it to cook the goulash. The slow cooker is ideal for this dish because it allows the meat to cook slowly over low heat, resulting in an intense flavor and tender texture.
  • Choose the paprika that you enjoy the most. There are different types of paprika, such as sweet, smoked, and spicy. Experiment with different types to find the one that suits your taste buds.
  • If you want the goulash to be thicker, you can add a tablespoon of flour or cornstarch dissolved in a little cold water.

Serving Suggestions

Goulash is delicious on its own, but it’s also great with a variety of side dishes, such as rice, pasta, potatoes, or bread. You can also garnish it with a sprinkle of grated cheese or a dollop of sour cream. Our Recommendation: To complement the goulash, we recommend our cauliflower puree. The creamy and smooth texture of the cauliflower puree perfectly balances the intense flavor of the goulash.

WW Points

Beef broth 0 points
Carrots 0 points
Uncooked zucchini 0 points
Olive oil 4 points
Table salt 0 points
Black pepper 0 points
Tomato 0 points
Paprika 1 point
Onion 0 points
Celery 0 points
Uncooked lean beef top sirloin steak 5 points
Cento San Marzano Passata Tomatoes, Crushed 0 points
All-purpose flour 1 point

4.50 from 2 votes

Goulash

Servings: 5 people
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 50 minutes
Goulash served in a bowl
In this Weight Watchers-friendly version of goulash, we've made some adjustments to keep it light and flavorful.

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups diced zucchini (300 g)
  • 1 cup diced carrots (150 g)
  • 1 cup cubed beef (200 g)
  • 1 cup diced onions (150 g)
  • 1 cup grated tomato (200 g)
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (for thickening)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1/2 cup diced celery (about 60 g)
  • 1 cup tomato passata

Instructions 

  • Dice the zucchini, carrots, beef, and onions into uniform pieces. Grate the tomato and measure the required amount.
  • In a large pot, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Toss the cubed beef in flour to coat lightly. Brown the beef in the hot oil until all sides are seared. Remove and set aside.
  • In the same pot, add diced onions and sauté until translucent. Add diced zucchini, carrots, and celery. Sauté until vegetables are slightly tender.
  • Stir in grated tomato and cook until it forms a thick mixture. Pour in the tomato passata, stirring well to combine. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Adjust to taste.
  • Return the browned beef to the pot. Pour in the beef broth, ensuring it covers the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cover and let it cook for about 1.5 to 2 hours or until the meat is tender.
  • If needed, mix a tablespoon of flour with a bit of water and stir into the goulash to thicken the broth. Serve it hot, optionally garnishing with fresh herbs or a dollop of sour cream.

Notes

Weight Watchers-friendly version of goulash with just 2 points

Nutrition

Serving: 405gCalories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 14gFat: 4.7gSaturated Fat: 1.1gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 961mgPotassium: 625mgFiber: 4.8gSugar: 3.4gCalcium: 45mgIron: 2.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Drizzle Me Skinny

Kate founded DrizzleMeSkinny in 2014. Since then she has shared nearly 1000 weight watchers friendly recipes with DrizzleMeSkinny's over 500,000 social media followers.

4.50 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




1 Comment

  1. 5 stars
    Delicious! I made the chicken version using chicken broth and cooked it for an hour- everything was atender and tasty! 😀