Discover the wonders of slow cooking with our crockpot goulash recipe. But before we get started, what is a goulash anyway? An old-fashioned goulash is a kind of soup or stew that originated from Hungary. It’s a versatile dish that lets you play with different combinations of spices, vegetables, and meat. Other variations also call for cheese, or even macaroni noodles.
For this recipe, we settled with tender beef chunks. These are slowly cooked in a thick, seasoned tomato-based broth. Just so flavorful, hearty, and comforting to eat, this beef goulash slow cooker dish is perfect for serving alongside warm French bread dinner rolls.
Tips on Making Crockpot Goulash
This slow cooker goulash recipe is the perfect savory comfort food for lunch or dinner. Plus, you can easily whip up a batch that would last you for days! Make the most out of this delicious crockpot goulash with some of our helpful tips below:
- Drain the beef chuck roast first before adding it in the crockpot to avoid a greasy goulash consistency. For a leaner and healthier alternative, you can also use ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
- Use beef bouillon cubes as a substitute for beef broth. For every 1 cup of broth, dissolve 1 beef bouillon cube in 8 ounces of boiling water. Add this into the slow cooker with the tomato paste, paprika, and cornstarch to make a rich, thick broth. However, if you prefer your goulash to be thinner, you can ditch the cornstarch and add more water to the broth. Add about 1½ or 2 cups of water for a thinner broth.
- Add more vegetables for a more filling dish. Slice up some potatoes, carrots, turnips, or radishes, and cook them in the broth. For a vegetarian rendition, just omit the meat and add more varieties of veggies such as broccoli, corn, or green onions.
- Try adding in pasta. Other easy goulash recipes call for pasta types like elbow macaroni or penne. This makes it extra scrumptious. Simply add about 3 or 4 cups of uncooked pasta into your crockpot goulash, and slowly cook them to perfection to enjoy a heartier meal for the family.
- Make it cheesy by adding in shredded cheddar cheese or grated parmesan cheese. These are some of the best cheeses that will make the dish creamier, cheesier, and much more flavorful.
How To Make Crockpot Goulash
A meaty dish served with a hearty stew, this crockpot goulash rewards your palate with exciting flavors. Each bite comes with tender meat drenched in a thick and savory soup.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cubed
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 cup beef broth, or beef bouillon cubes
- 6 oz tomato paste, (1 can)
- 1 tbsp Hungarian paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Season beef with salt and black pepper.
- In a pan, brown the beef in medium heat.
- Transfer the beef to the crockpot once done and add in the onions and garlic.
- Combine the beef broth, tomato paste, and paprika in a mixing bowl and stir until well-mixed.
- Add mixture into the crockpot and add the bay leaf.
- Let the crockpot simmer for at least 8 to 10 hours on Low, stirring occasionally.
- 30 minutes before serving, discard the bay leaves and turn the heat on High. Then, cover and cook for another 30 minutes.
- To thicken the mixture, mix the cornstarch with water and add it to the stew.
- Once done, serve the dish over a bowl of rice or noodles. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- You can place your goulash in air-tight bags or freezer-proof containers and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To reheat your goulash, you have to let it thaw overnight in the fridge. Use a saucepan and reheat your goulash at medium heat.
- You can use this method for a make-ahead goulash where it can also last up to 3 days in the fridge. Just remember to reheat before consuming.
Nutrition
- Sugar: 4g
- :
- Calcium: 48mg
- Calories: 316kcal
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Cholesterol: 104mg
- Fat: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Iron: 4mg
- Potassium: 864mg
- Protein: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Sodium: 504mg
- Vitamin A: 1027IU
- Vitamin C: 8mg
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between American and Hungarian goulash?
A Hungarian beef goulash recipe is completely different from an American goulash. A traditional Hungarian goulash recipe is made with stew meat, onions, tomato sauce, and paprika. Meanwhile, the American version consists of a tomato-based soup, ground beef, and elbow macaroni noodles or other similar kinds of pasta. It’s also a quick dish to make compared to the old-fashioned Hungarian goulash. For this crockpot goulash recipe, we combined a bit of both Hungarian and American ingredients. Mixing in a tablespoon of Hungarian paprika into the tomato-based broth with beef chunks makes for a hearty dish.
What do I serve with my goulash?
Goulash is best served with a side of vegetables. While steamed broccoli or this grilled asparagus recipe makes a great pair to this dish, we also suggest serving it with potatoes on the side. Try our homemade mashed potatoes and gravy to complete a hearty and filling meal!
Conclusion
A hearty bowl of classic Hungarian flavors, this crockpot goulash is a flavorful dish that's easy to make. This homemade goulash is cooked for hours in the crockpot so you're sure to have a rich and savory stew once the timer's up! Ladle it over a bed of rice or pasta noodles to complete your meal.Have your own special recipe to share? Submit Your Recipe Today!
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