Crock Pot Goulash: This old-fashioned comfort food crock pot meal is made with simple ingredients and packed with flavor from chunky vegetables, hearty beef, and warm spices simmered in a rich, tomato-based sauce.
Pastas are the ultimate comfort food. So along with this one, we love having our hamburger mac and cheese and this quick beef stroganoff recipe.
When the temperatures drop and the sweaters come out, I love serving steaming hot bowls of recipes like this goulash recipe, and this chicken noodle soup, comforting clam chowder, and classic chili.
I especially love throwing ingredients in my slow cooker and coming back a few hours later for a delicious main course, ready to dish out to my family and friends. Now, I think I’ve found the best slow cooker goulash recipe and I am so excited to share it with you!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
With minimal prep and simple, familiar ingredients, this super easy crock pot goulash recipe will be a staple in cooler months. Goulash is an old-fashioned recipe that provides the comfort that you’re looking for! (Speaking of old-fashioned recipes, have you ever had macaroni and tomatoes? It’s a classic southern favorite.)
If you’re not used to having peppers in your goulash, you can leave them out! But… they do add a great flavor!
Goulash is comfort food with a capital C. This comfort food classic is a cross between chili mac a little of this sausage pasta bake, and vegetable soup and it is rich, hearty, and delicious!
Our beef goulash recipe makes 10 generous servings, so this hearty meal is a great option for a large family, a potluck or to serve on game day!
Jump to:
Ingredients
Goulash is one of our all-time ultimate comfort foods. It is made with simple, budget-friendly ingredients that you can find in any grocery store.
Substitutions & Variations
This easy slow cooker recipe is very flexible and can be adjusted to fit your family’s tastes or dietary preferences. Here are some simple substitutions and suggestions for this easy goulash recipe:
- Meat: This old-fashioned goulash recipe in the crock pot calls for ground beef, but you can easily substitute lean ground beef, ground chicken (like we used in our chicken bolognese recipe), or ground turkey. Or if you have more ground beef on hand, you can make some of these dinner ideas with ground beef.
- Spices: To vary the flavor in this goulash, you can use smoked paprika, Hungarian paprika, chili powder, caraway seed, or bay leaves. (Remove the bay leaves before serving.)
- Broth: If you don’t have beef broth on hand, my homemade chicken broth or vegetable broth will work in a pinch.
- Sauces: Instead of Worcestershire sauce, you can substitute soy sauce or liquid aminos. Any of the sauces add richness and depth of flavor to the goulash.
- Add toppings! Serve this easy crockpot goulash with a big dollop of sour cream, a variety of shredded cheese (cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese or Parmesan cheese), fresh parsley or even crunchy French fried onions.
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*
Instructions
With just 4 easy steps, you will have a delicious meal with minimal effort that delivers big on flavor!
- In the insert of a 6-8 quart crock pot, combine one 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes, 1 cup chunky tomato pasta sauce, 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon paprika, 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning, ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese and ½ tablespoon of red pepper flakes and stir until well mixed.
- Now, add 2 ½ pounds of cooked and drained ground beef, 1 large chopped onion, 1 diced large green pepper, 1 diced large red pepper, and stir well.
- Next, stir in 3 cups of beef broth.
- Cook on low for 5 hours or on high for 3 hours. 30 minutes prior to serving, add 2 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni noodles.
Once the noodles are tender, serve the goulash warm and enjoy!
My mouth is watering! I can’t wait to dig into another bowl of this perfect comfort food.
Putting this on repeat with this easy lasagna soup recipe is what our winter dinner menu consists of.
FAQs
Most goulash recipes get the recognizable flavor from bell peppers, beef, a tomato based sauce and spices like caraway, cumin and paprika.
The key ingredients in traditional goulash are ground beef, peppers and onions, spices and macaroni noodles in a seasoned tomato sauce.
Steamed rice or cooked egg noodles are staple side dishes for goulash. Fresh baked Italian white bread or this focaccia bread recipe are great for dipping in the saucy goulash. Hungarian goulash, as you may hear this dish called, is often served with cooked cabbage or a cucumber salad. I like to serve this American style goulash (or American chop suey) with a fresh side salad, too.
Storage
Leftovers from this goulash recipe in the slow cooker can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
You can freeze slow cooker goulash for up to 5 months in an airtight, freezer safe container. We recommend freezing the goulash without the noodles. Thaw the leftover goulash in the refrigerator, reheat it on the stove or in your crock pot, add the cooked noodles and serve.
More Slow Cooker Meals
Busy weeknights and jam-packed weekends call for easy slow-cooker meals, am I right? Here are a few of our very favorite crock pot dinners:
- Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks
- BBQ Pork Steaks in the Slow Cooker
- Venison Chili
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Recipe
Crock Pot Goulash
Equipment
- slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup chunky tomato pasta sauce
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 3 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 2 ½ lbs ground beef browned and drained
- 1 onion diced
- 1 tomato diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 cups elbow macaroni noodles uncooked
Instructions
- In the insert of a 6-8 quart crock pot, combine one 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes, 1 cup chunky tomato pasta sauce, 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon paprika, 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning, ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese and ½ tablespoon of red pepper flakes and stir until well mixed.
- Now, add 2 ½ pounds of ground beef that has been browned and drained, 1 diced large sweet onion, 1 diced large tomato, 1 diced green bell pepper and 1 diced red pepper and stir well.
- Next, add 3 cups of beef broth and stir well.
- Cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hours. 30 minutes prior to serving, add 2 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni noodles. Once the noodles are tender, serve the goulash warm and enjoy!
Notes
- If you’re not used to have peppers in your goulash, you can leave those out but they provide amazing flavor!
- We recommend using lean ground beef for this recipe, but you can also use ground chicken or ground turkey.
- You can precook the noodles and add them right before serving this old fashioned goulash.
- Crock pot goulash can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- You can freeze the goulash for up to 5 months. We recommend freezing the goulash without the noodles and add them after thawing. Thaw the goulash in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.
- To reheat the goulash, you can return it to the crock pot and heat on low for an hour. You can also microwave it in a microwave-safe container. Another option is to heat the goulash on the stove top in a large pan over medium heat.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Julia says
Ok, this is the most amazing recipe! Such an easy and satisfying lunch or dinner idea when you have a million things to do! Just pop all the ingredients in and forget about it until it’s ready to be served!
Kristyn says
Loving this crock pot version!! It’s easy, hearty, & so good!! Goulash is one of my go-to meals!!
Kara says
I’m trying to use my crock pot more often, so gave this a try. Whole family loved it! I definitely recommend using the green pepper, it does add so much flavor!