Hearty Crockpot Goulash: A Comforting, Slow-Cooked Family Favorite

When you need a warm, filling meal that brings everyone to the dinner table, Hearty Crockpot Goulash is an excellent choice. This comforting dish combines tender ground beef, pasta, tomatoes, and savory seasonings in a rich, flavorful sauce. Everything comes together in the slow cooker, allowing the ingredients to simmer gently and develop a delicious homemade taste with very little hands-on effort.

Perfect for busy weeknights, chilly evenings, or relaxed family dinners, this recipe delivers the kind of satisfying comfort food that never goes out of style. The beef becomes wonderfully tender, the tomato-based sauce absorbs the flavors of garlic and herbs, and the pasta adds just the right amount of heartiness to make every serving a complete meal.

One of the best things about this Crockpot Goulash is its simplicity. With affordable ingredients and easy preparation, you can create a generous meal without spending hours standing over the stove.

Why You'll Love This Hearty Crockpot Goulash

There are plenty of reasons to add this recipe to your regular dinner rotation.

• Easy preparation: A little chopping, browning, and mixing are all you need before the slow cooker does most of the work.

• Rich homemade flavor: Ground beef, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and Italian seasonings create a deliciously savory sauce.

• Budget-friendly: The recipe uses simple ingredients that are easy to find at almost any grocery store.

• Perfect for families: It's filling, satisfying, and easy to adjust to different tastes.

• Great for leftovers: The flavors continue to develop, making reheated portions just as enjoyable the next day.

Ingredients You'll Need

This recipe uses everyday ingredients to create a flavorful, hearty meal. For the best results, choose lean ground beef and a sturdy pasta shape that holds up well when combined with the sauce.

Main ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef

• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 green bell pepper, diced

• 2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce

• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 3 cups beef broth

• 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• ½ teaspoon dried oregano

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

• ½ teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance the acidity of the tomatoes)

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Kitchen Equipment

Before getting started, gather the following:

• A 5- to 6-quart slow cooker

• A large skillet

• A wooden spoon or spatula

• A cutting board and sharp knife

• Measuring cups and spoons

• A colander for draining the pasta, if needed

How to Make Hearty Crockpot Goulash Step by Step

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

Start by preparing your vegetables. Peel and finely dice the yellow onion, mince the garlic cloves, and chop the green bell pepper into small pieces.

Keeping the vegetables relatively small helps them cook evenly and blend naturally into the tomato sauce. Set everything aside while you prepare the ground beef.

Step 2: Brown the Ground Beef

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula.

Cook for approximately 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fully browned and no pink remains. If there is a large amount of excess grease, carefully drain it.

Browning the beef before adding it to the slow cooker is an important step. It develops a deeper savory flavor and prevents the finished goulash from tasting overly greasy.

Step 3: Add the Onion, Garlic, and Bell Pepper

Add the diced onion and green bell pepper to the skillet with the browned beef.

Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for approximately 30 seconds, just until fragrant.

Avoid cooking the garlic for too long because it can become bitter.

Once everything is fragrant and lightly softened, remove the skillet from the heat.

Step 4: Transfer Everything to the Crockpot

Spoon the cooked beef and vegetable mixture into your slow cooker.

Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juices, tomato paste, and beef broth.

Stir everything together until the ingredients are evenly distributed. The tomato paste should dissolve into the liquid, helping create a rich and flavorful sauce.

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