There’s nothing like coming home to the smell of a hearty meal simmering in the crockpot, and this Crock Pot American Goulash is comfort food at its best.
It’s a semi one-pot wonder loaded with ground beef, tender pasta, and a rich tomato sauce that cooks low and slow for the perfect texture and flavor.
This recipe is family-friendly, budget-friendly, and makes enough to feed a crowd. It’s the kind of cozy, easy meal that fits right into busy weeknights or lazy weekends when you want dinner to take care of itself.
If you enjoy slow cooker meals like this, you’ll also love our crockpot beef and noodles, crockpot cube steak and gravy or slow cooker steak bites served over mashed potatoes
The best part…
- Hands-off cooking: The slow cooker does all the work—just brown the beef, add everything in, and let it simmer to perfection.
- Comforting and hearty: Tender elbow macaroni, flavorful beef, and a thick, tomato-based sauce make this dish incredibly satisfying.
- Flexible ingredients: You can swap the meat, pasta, or cheese to fit your taste or what’s in your pantry.
- Feeds a family: Makes generous portions and reheats beautifully, perfect for leftovers or meal prep.
Ingredients
- Lean ground beef: A flavorful base for the sauce. You can also use turkey or pork.
- Green bell peppers & onion: Add sweetness and texture to the dish.
- Garlic: Brings depth and aroma.
- Beef broth: Helps create a rich sauce and prevents it from drying out.
- Pasta sauce & diced tomatoes: Combine for that classic tomato flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds savory depth.
- Italian seasoning & garlic powder: For that comforting homemade taste.
- Bay leaf: Infuses subtle flavor as it slow cooks.
- Elbow macaroni: A traditional choice that cooks right in the sauce.
- Cheddar cheese: Melts in at the end for a creamy finish.
* Need to print out this recipe? You’ll find a printable recipe card at the end of this post. Enjoy!
How to make crock pot American goulash
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until browned. Drain off excess grease and transfer the beef to your crockpot.
Stir in the chopped bell peppers, onion, minced garlic, beef broth, pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf.
Cover and cook on Low for 5–6 hours or High for 2–3 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the flavors meld together.
Remove the bay leaf, then stir in the uncooked macaroni about 30 minutes before serving. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking and check for tenderness after 20 minutes.
Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. Garnish with parsley before serving.
Substitutions and variations
- Try ground turkey or pork instead of beef.
- Use different short pasta shapes like penne, cavatappi, or shells.
- For a creamier sauce, mix in a splash of heavy cream instead of cheese.
- If the sauce thickens too much, add extra broth; if too thin, let it cook uncovered for a few minutes.
Serve with
Crock Pot American Goulash is a full meal on its own, to stretch the meal further, serve with garlic bread or buttery dinner rolls and a crisp green salad.
Steamed veggies like green beans or broccoli make a great side dish for recipe.
Storing and reheating leftovers
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Warm on the stovetop over medium heat, adding a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce.
Freeze: Freeze without pasta for best texture, then cook pasta fresh when reheating.
Helpful Tips
- Feel free to sauté the onions and peppers with the beef for extra flavor.
- Add the pasta near the end to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Stir once or twice during the last 30 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Don’t skip the Worcestershire sauce, it adds depth that makes this dish stand out.
FAQs
It’s best to add uncooked pasta near the end of the cooking time so it absorbs the sauce. Cooked pasta can become too soft.
Yes. The cheese adds creaminess but can be omitted or replaced with a splash of cream or milk.
Yes, if your crockpot is large enough. Keep the same cook time but stir occasionally for even heating.
Try our crock pot American goulash today!
This Crock Pot American Goulash is an easy, hearty, and comforting meal that brings everyone to the table.
With simple ingredients and almost no effort, it’s the kind of recipe that reminds you why slow cooker dinners never go out of style.
Happy cooking!
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Crockpot American goulash
Equipment
- 6-quart crockpot
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 2 medium green bell peppers (seeded and chopped)
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 3 cups beef broth (add more if needed)
- 32 oz pasta sauce (32 oz jar)
- 28 oz petite diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 ½ cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
For Serving:
- Chopped parsley and extra shredded cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef until it’s no longer pink, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
- Transfer the cooked beef to your crockpot. Add bell peppers, onion, garlic, beef broth, pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and the bay leaf. Stir well to mix.
- Cover and cook on Low for 5–6 hours or High for 2–3 hours.
- About 30 minutes before serving, remove the bay leaf and stir in the uncooked macaroni. Make sure the pasta is submerged in the liquid. Continue cooking until the pasta is tender, stirring once or twice to prevent sticking.
- Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with chopped parsley and extra cheese before serving.
Notes
- For richer flavor, try browning the onions and peppers with the beef before adding to the crockpot.
- Add the pasta toward the end of cooking so it doesn’t get mushy. Stir once midway through the last 30 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- To make this a freezer meal, prepare everything except the pasta, freeze in a bag, and cook in the crockpot later. Add pasta fresh when reheating.
- Leftovers often taste even better the next day as the flavors deepen overnight.
Nutrition
