Originally made with Franco-American canned spaghetti, this beloved family recipe is now prepared with the closest modern equivalent, Campbell’s canned spaghetti. It’s a hearty, comforting casserole that brings back memories of simple home-cooked meals, combining canned spaghetti, seasoned ground beef, onion, and creamy Velveeta cheese.
A touch of ketchup adds just the right amount of tangy sweetness, creating a dish that is cheesy, beefy, savory, and slightly sweet all at once. It’s the kind of old-fashioned comfort food that warms both the stomach and the heart—perfect for a cozy family dinner.
Family History
This recipe has been passed down through generations of our family. It comes from Mary Jean Dickey Barker, my husband’s grandmother. She remembered her own mother making this dish in 1951, when Mary Jean was in the first grade. More than 70 years later, we’re still enjoying the same comforting flavors and preserving a cherished piece of family history.
Franco American Goulash
A hearty, cheesy family favorite passed down since 1951, made with canned spaghetti, seasoned ground beef, onion, pork and beans, and creamy Velveeta. A little ketchup adds tangy sweetness to this comforting one-pot meal.
8
servings10
minutes40
minutes400
kcal50
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
3 cans Campbell’s Spaghetti (15.8 oz per can; the original 1951 family recipe called for Franco-American Spaghetti.)
1 15-ounce can pork and beans
8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoned Salt (a modern addition; not in the original recipe)
1/2 cup ketchup
Directions
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned.
- Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Stir in the Campbell’s Spaghetti, pork and beans, ketchup, and Velveeta cheese.
- Add the Lawry’s Seasoned Salt, if using. (This was not part of the original family recipe but adds a little extra flavor.)
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture is heated through and the cheese is completely melted, about 30 minutes.
- Serve hot and enjoy a taste of our family history.
- Try with Fritos!
Recipe Video
Thank you
- Thank you for trying another family favorite,
Mary
Mary at the Southern Spoon
For another cheesy, beefy family dinner, try our Cheesy Cowboy Spaghetti Beef Casserole. - Estimated yield: 8 servings, each 1/8 of the batch. Estimated nutrition: about 400 calories per serving, based on 80/20 ground beef drained after browning, regular ketchup, and a 15-ounce can of pork and beans. Optional Fritos are not included. Actual nutrition varies with brands and preparation.