Soup · Dinner · Eastern European ·

Hearty Goulash Soup with Beef and Paprika Swirl

Name: Hearty Goulash Soup with Beef and Paprika Swirl
Prep time: 55 min
Cook time: 165 min
Total time: 220 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 large onions, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1½ lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes; Salt and pepper, to taste; 1 tbsp flour; 2 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp caraway seeds; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 6 cups beef broth; 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced; 3 carrots, peeled and sliced; ½ cup sour cream; 1 tsp smoked paprika

Warm, rich, and full of robust flavors, this Hungarian-inspired Goulash Soup is perfect for a cozy dinner.

4(405 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 23, 2025

Hearty Goulash Soup with Beef and Paprika Swirl — Soup served and photographed from above

Prep

55 min

Cook

2 h 45 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Soup Base

For the Beef

For the Spice Mix

For the Broth

For the Paprika Swirl

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 409 kcal
Protein: 29.2 g
Carbs: 21.8 g
Fat: 24.3 g
Fiber: 3.9 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2452 kcal
Protein: 175.3 g
Carbs: 130.9 g
Fat: 146 g
Fiber: 23.4 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 tbsp olive oil	239	0	0	27	0
2 large onions, chopped	100	2.5	22	0.2	4
3 cloves garlic, minced	13	0.6	3	0	0.2
1½ lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes	1362	144	0	92	0
Salt and pepper, to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1 tbsp flour	28	1	6	0.1	0.2
2 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika	36	1.9	7.1	1.8	4
1 tsp smoked paprika	6	0.3	1.2	0.3	0.7
1 tsp caraway seeds	8	0.4	1.4	0.5	0.8
1 tbsp tomato paste	13	0.6	3	0.1	0.7
6 cups beef broth	60	12	4	1	0
2 large potatoes, peeled and diced	284	7.2	60	0.4	6.8
3 carrots, peeled and sliced	75	1.5	17	0.3	5
½ cup sour cream	222	3	5	22	0
1 tsp smoked paprika	6	0.3	1.2	0.3	0.7

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Beef

1
Season the beef
Season the beef cubes with salt and pepper.
2
Coat with flour
Coat the beef with flour evenly.
3
Rest
Set aside for at least 15 minutes.

Preparing the Spice Mix

1
Combine spices
Combine both types of paprika and caraway seeds in a small bowl.
Tip: Do not let the paprika burn as it can turn bitter. To enhance flavor, bloom the spices briefly in oil.
2
Mix tomato paste
Mix in the tomato paste to form a thick paste.
3
Set aside
Set aside until ready to use.

How to Make Hearty Goulash Soup with Beef and Paprika Swirl

Total time: 3 h 40 min · Yields 6 servings

1
Sautéing the Base
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions and garlic, sauté until golden.
2
Browning the Beef
Increase heat to medium-high and add the marinated beef cubes. Brown evenly.
3
Simmering Everything
Stir in the spice mix and cook briefly. Add beef broth, potatoes, and carrots. Simmer for 2 hours.