Hearty Crockpot Goulash: A Comforting Slow Cooker Classic

If you’re craving a warm, comforting dish that feeds a crowd with ease, this Crockpot Goulash is the perfect choice. It combines tender pasta shells with a rich, beefy tomato sauce that cooks low and slow to perfection. This recipe delivers bold flavor with minimal effort, making it ideal for busy weeknights and family meals. Even better, the slow cooker does most of the work for you.

Why You’ll Love This Goulash

This slow cooker goulash is packed with savory ingredients that blend beautifully as they simmer. Ground beef adds hearty richness, while the onions, garlic, and bell pepper bring depth and aroma. The tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste create a thick, flavorful base that coats every piece of pasta. Because the pasta is added at the end, it stays pleasantly firm instead of mushy.

You’ll appreciate how simple this recipe is to prepare. It makes a large batch, which is perfect for leftovers or feeding a group. With just a few pantry staples, you can create a meal that tastes like it has been cooking all day.

Ingredients That Bring Big Flavor

Each ingredient plays an important part in creating that classic goulash taste. Ground beef provides savory richness. Italian seasoning brings warmth and herbs. Worcestershire sauce deepens the flavor, while mushrooms add moisture and umami. The diced tomatoes and pasta sauce help create a robust meat sauce that’s thick and comforting.

Ingredient List

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 ½ medium yellow onions, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• ½ cup water
• 24 ounces pasta sauce
• 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juices
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 8 ounces canned mushrooms with juices
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
• 3 cups medium shells, uncooked

These simple ingredients work together to make a deeply flavored, satisfying dish.

Easy Steps to Make Crockpot Goulash

This recipe is incredibly simple because most of the cooking happens in the slow cooker. The only prep you need to do is browning the ground beef with onions and garlic.

How to Make It

1. Brown ground beef, onions, and garlic in a skillet until no pink remains. Drain excess fat.
2. Transfer the beef mixture to the Crockpot.
3. Add all remaining ingredients except for the uncooked pasta shells.
4. Cook on High for 2 hours or Low for 4–5 hours.
5. Cook pasta shells separately until al dente, then drain well.
6. Stir pasta into the meat sauce, cover, and cook for an additional 10 minutes to heat through.

This last step ensures the pasta absorbs the flavors without becoming soggy.

Helpful Notes for Best Results

This goulash naturally turns out thick and hearty. If you want a more soup-like consistency, simply add more water. Increasing it to 1 ½ or 2 cups gives you a slightly looser sauce.

You can also customize the dish. Adding red pepper flakes brings heat and depth. Swapping mushrooms for fresh vegetables like zucchini or carrots provides extra texture. The base recipe works well for personalizing however you like.

Nutrition Overview

Each serving includes:

• Calories: 373
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Protein: 33g
• Fat: 6g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Cholesterol: 70mg
• Sodium: 749mg
• Fiber: 5g
• Sugar: 11g

These numbers show that the dish offers plenty of protein while remaining balanced and satisfying.

Final Thoughts

This Crockpot Goulash is the perfect mix of convenience and comfort. The rich meat sauce pairs beautifully with tender pasta, making every bite hearty and delicious. Because it’s easy to prepare and full of flavor, it’s sure to become a favorite in your meal rotation. Whether you’re feeding your family or bringing a dish to a gathering, this slow cooker classic never disappoints.

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