Description
This Crock Pot American Goulash is a comforting, easy-to-make one-pot meal filled with tender ground beef, vibrant vegetables, tangy tomato sauces, and perfectly cooked elbow macaroni. Slow-cooked to meld flavors beautifully, it’s perfect for a hearty family dinner with minimal hands-on time.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small sweet onion, finely diced
- 1 green pepper, finely diced (optional)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 24 ounce jar pasta sauce (such as Rao’s Roasted Garlic Sauce)
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 15 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 cup water
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
Instructions
- Brown the Beef and Vegetables: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown and crumble 1 pound of ground beef along with the finely diced sweet onion and green pepper. Cook until the beef is fully done and the onions and peppers have softened. Drain off any excess grease to avoid a greasy dish.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker: Place the cooked ground beef mixture into a 4-6 quart slow cooker, forming the base of your goulash.
- Add Tomato Sauces and Seasoning: Stir in 2 teaspoons minced garlic, the jar of pasta sauce, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, 1 cup of water, Italian seasoning, and granulated sugar. Do not add the macaroni at this stage to prevent overcooking.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 2-4 hours. This slow simmering allows the flavors to develop fully and the sauce to thicken nicely.
- Add Macaroni: About an hour before serving, add 1 cup of uncooked elbow macaroni to the slow cooker. Stir well, cover, and continue cooking until the noodles are just tender or to your preferred doneness.
- Serve: Once the macaroni is cooked, serve the goulash hot. It pairs wonderfully with fresh garlic bread and a crisp salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- You can omit the green pepper if preferred or substitute it with another vegetable like mushrooms for added texture.
- Use Rao’s Roasted Garlic Sauce or a similar high-quality pasta sauce for deeper flavor.
- Ensure to add the macaroni only during the last hour of cooking to avoid mushy noodles.
- Leftovers reheat well and can make great next-day lunches.
- For a lower fat option, use lean ground beef or ground turkey.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours low or 2-4 hours high in slow cooker
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Crock Pot goulash, slow cooker goulash, beef goulash, American goulash recipe, easy slow cooker meals
