Slow Cooker Goulash Recipe

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This slow cooker recipe is a delicious, filling and hearty meal that is super easy to prepare in your crockpot. Requiring mere minutes of prep time and a few simple ingredients, slow cooker goulash is the perfect family meal for a busy night!

Bowl of goulash sitting next to a pot of it.

Why This Recipe Works

This comforting crockpot recipe was derived from my American Goulash recipe, a top recipe here on this blog. I transformed an easy one-pot, stove top meal into an even easier crock pot meal!

American style goulash made in your slow cooker is the perfect dinner recipe to make for both busy weeknights and times when you are feeding guests. Not a morsel will go to waste and the rave reviews will come flooding in!

What Is Goulash?

Goulash? Gulach? Goolash? Ghoulash? What the heck does this funny word even mean? First of all, American and Hungarian Goulash are two entirely different recipes.

Based on this Hungarian goulash recipe from Taste of Home here are the ingredients you’ll find in the Hungarian version that you will not find in the American version: carrots, green peppers, stew meat (in place of ground beef), beef broth, paprika, caraway seeds and sour cream.

Keep reading for details about the American version of the delish one-pot dinner detailed in this post.

As for goulash origin, it stems from the Hungarian word “Gulyás” which is defined as “cowboy.” Hungarian cowboys butchered the weakest cattle and made easy meals out of their meat. Hence, the word!

Recipe Ingredients

Goulash ingredients lined up on a cutting board.

Ground beef – Try replacing the ground beef (or a portion of it) with ground pork for an added punch of flavor. For a healthier version of this comforting meal, replace the beef with ground turkey or chicken.

Diced tomatoes – Do not drain the tomatoes! Also, consider using a variety with added herbs and flavors.

Tomato sauce – If you have time for it, you will be happy with the boost of flavor that homemade tomato sauce offers.

Water – Replace all or a portion of the water in the recipe with LOW SODIUM beef broth for an even more flavorful meal.

Worcestershire sauce – Replace with equal amounts soy sauce, if desired.

Seasoned salt – This might seem like an odd ingredient, but don’t skip it! It adds the perfect amount of seasoning. When I’ve skipped this ingredient in the past, I’ve noticed a difference in overall flavor of the dish.

Elbow macaroni – A different variety of pasta can be used in this recipe, such as penne or rotini.

Watch A Web Story On Goulash

You can prepare goulash for dinner in your slow cooker with just a few steps!

How To Make Slow Cooker Goulash

Top view of a skillet filled with cooked ground beef and onions.

Step 1

In a Dutch oven or large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain grease. Add chopped onion and minced garlic and cook for 3 minutes, or until soft and fragrant.

Diced tomatoes, seasonings and other liquids in a slow cooker.

Step 2

Transfer meat mixture to a slow cooker and add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning and seasoned salt. Mix well.

Step 3

Cook on high heat for 3 1/2 hours or low heat for 7 1/2 hours.

Uncooked elbow macaroni after being added to a tomato-based mixture in a crockpot.

Add the uncooked pasta and cook for an additional 30 minutes, or until pasta is cooked to al dente. Sprinkle black pepper, a dollop of sour cream and/or shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese over the top and serve immediately!

Recipe Notes

Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese or Parmesan over the top just before serving for an extra cheesy version of this dish.
Add a bay leaf or two and/or a splash of red wine to the crockpot for extra flavor.
Fennel or caraway seed are both great additions, when looking to add flavor and texture.
Spice up the mixture by adding red pepper flakes, hot sauce or cayenne pepper.
Replace 15 ounces of the tomato sauce with a 6-oz. can of tomato paste for a bolder tomato flavor.
Add a chopped green bell pepper to the onion mixture for added texture and flavor. Red, yellow, orange or green peppers all taste great.
Use a slow cooker liner to reduce clean-up time.

Make Goulash in an Instant Pot

Make this comforting meal in your Instant Pot! Instant Pot goulash could not be easier or more delicious. It cooks perfectly every time and is done in only 30 minutes. Perfect easy dinner any night of the week!

Side Dish Options for the Best Slow Cooker Goulash

A delicious chopped salad complements this meal perfectly!
You can’t go wrong with a side of garlic bread.
Any side of vegetables would go great with this meal. Consider steamed broccoli or cauliflower or sauteed zucchini or mushrooms. Asparagus and Brussels sprouts are great options, too.
Add a giant heaping spoonful of this simple recipe over a baked potato and top with shredded cheese.
Roasted or grilled tomatoes would taste amazing with this dish and would complement the tomatoes in the recipe even more.

Make Your Own Tomato Sauce

To add an extra touch of flavor to this meal, consider making your own tomato sauce! Homemade Tomato Sauce is SO easy to make and the flavor is out of this world.

Wooden spoon sticking out of a crockpot filled with goulash.

FAQ About Goulash

Are goulash and spaghetti the same?

Goulash and spaghetti contain similar ingredients. When making spaghetti, the pasta and sauce are cooked separately and combined just before serving. Goulash is typically made in a single pot.

What to serve with goulash?

The great thing about goulash is that it’s a one-pot meal. You’ve got pasta, meat and veggies all wrapped into one easy meal. If you’re looking for something extra to serve alongside this comfort food favorite, consider any of the following:
A delicious chopped salad complements any meal perfectly! You can’t go wrong with garlic bread! Any side of vegetables would go great with this meal. Consider steamed broccoli or cauliflower or sauteed zucchini or mushrooms. Asparagus and Brussels sprouts would be great, too! Add a giant heaping spoonful of goulash over a baked potato. Roasted or grilled tomatoes would taste amazing with this dish and would complement the tomatoes in the recipe even more!

How long will goulash last in the fridge?

Cooked and cooled goulash, when stored in an airtight container, will last in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can goulash be frozen?

Goulash freezes fairly well, with the pasta losing some of its firmness after it has been thawed. When preparing a big batch of goulash to freeze, consider cooking the pasta separately and adding it to the recipe just before serving.

Cheap Dinner Ideas Using Ground Beef

Make dinner and affordable with this delicious list of affordable dinner ideas using ground beef as a main ingredient. Ground beef does not need to be boring!

Inside the roundup you will find recipes such as Runza Casserole, Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole, Spaghetti Sauce and more!

Ground Beef and Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipes

Simplify dinner tonight! Create an easy, affordable and delicious meal using two hearty main ingredients. Click over for a handful of ground beef and cream of mushroom soup recipes!

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