Description
This hearty Crockpot Goulash is a cozy, family-friendly dinner that practically cooks itself. Tender pasta, savory ground beef, and a rich tomato-beef broth come together in one slow cooker for maximum comfort with minimal effort. It’s budget-friendly, easy to customize, and perfect for busy weeknights or laid-back weekends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped (any color)
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully cooked and no longer pink.
- Drain any excess fat and transfer the cooked ground beef to the crockpot.
- Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and chopped bell pepper to the crockpot with the beef.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their juices), tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until everything is well combined.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have melded.
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the uncooked elbow macaroni, making sure the pasta is mostly submerged in the liquid.
- Cover again and continue cooking on HIGH for about 20–30 minutes, or until the pasta is tender but not mushy. Stir once halfway through if possible.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- If desired, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top, cover, and let it sit for a few minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Serve warm, straight from the crockpot.
Notes
- If the mixture looks too thick before adding the pasta, stir in an extra 1/2–1 cup of broth or water to ensure there’s enough liquid for the macaroni to cook.
- Slow cookers can vary in heat; start checking the pasta around 20 minutes after adding it so it doesn’t overcook.
- For a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce along with the seasonings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6–8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
Keywords: crockpot goulash, slow cooker goulash, easy goulash, beef and pasta, comfort food