Did you know that Goulash looks different depending on what country you are eating it in? Growing up, my mom always made goulash with macaroni noodles in it. Turns out that is a very American way to eat goulash. Goulash originated in the Czech Republic, and their version is a very flavorful stew-like, meat-based dish. It usually has onions and peppers and paprika and other spices cooked into it. The meat is usually pork or beef and is fall-apart tender. It’s really good and completely different from the goulash I grew up eating. I am excited for you to try my version that is made for the Crock-Pot. I’m calling it The Best Slow Cooker Goulash. It’s delicious and super comforting. You’re going to love it!
A few weeks ago, I wanted to make a slow cooker meal for Sunday Dinner. We have church at 12:30 p.m., so if I don’t think about dinner before church, I usually end up making something fast and not getting to have a nap or play a game with the kids. I went down to the freezer and saw we had quite a few packages of ground beef. So I decided I was going to make something with ground beef.
I thought about making this yummy Slow Cooker Hobo Dinner recipe, but we had that last week. I was drawing a blank and then started thinking about goulash. I hadn’t ever made goulash in the slow cooker and decided it was high time to give it a try. It turned out so great, and it was so nice to come home and only need to pour in the noodles to cook for 20 minutes. Next time you need a ground beef slow cooker dinner, you’ve gotta give this a try!
More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Balsamic Pork Loin
- Creamy Ranch Chicken Stew
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Beef Stew
- Pineapple Salsa Chicken aka Mexican Delight
- Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
Step-by-step Pictures for how to make the best slow Cooker Goulash
Frequently Asked Questions about how to make The Best Slow Cooker Goulash
Will the noodles get soggy?
No, surprisingly they won’t. Well, they will if you put them in too early, but if you follow the directions, they won’t. You’ll be so surprised noodles can turn out that well in a slow cooker recipe.
Can I use a combination of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce in place of the Crushed tomatoes?
Yes. That is a great substitution for crushed tomatoes. I suggest using a 15-ounce can of each.
What are some good add-ins for goulash?
The great thing about goulash is you can add in about anything you want. Any of the following would be great: a can of corn, a can of green beans, frozen peas, a can of drained kidney beans or white beans.
Can I boil the noodles separately and then add them right before serving?
Yes, you can do that, but the noodles soak up the broth/water when you add them to the slow cooker. So if you choose to boil them separately, only add 2 cups of water instead of 4 cups when you initially put everything in the slow cooker. You will also need to use 2 teaspoons less beef bouillon. Make sure you salt the pasta water if you boil it separately.
CHEF’S TOOLS:
Sunday Dinners You'll Love!
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large onion (approx. 1 cup)
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed or finely chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 2-3 carrots, diced small
- 1-3 stalks celery, diced small
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp brown sugar (optional, but I think it's vital :))
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 (28 ounce) can of crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups water
- 5 tsp beef bouillon
- 1 (16 ounce) box of macaroni noodles
- Before adding the ground beef to the slow cooker, brown it with the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. (If you have a slow cooker that has a saute option, you can use that. Otherwise, use a skillet on your stovetop.)
- Once the meat is browned and added to the slow cooker, add the remaining ingredients except for the macaroni noodles. Stir until combined.
- Next, cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3.
- Stir in the macaroni noodles 30-40 minutes before serving. Check the noodles at 20 minutes just to make sure your slow cooker doesn't cook them faster or slower than mine. The noodles should be perfectly tender at this point, but if they aren't, you can let them continue to cook for 5-10 more minutes.
Quick and Easy Desserts
How long before serving do you put in the noodles? Time is not listed in recipe. Thanks
Sorry about that. I will go fix it. I put them in 30-40 minutes before I plan to serve it.