Crockpot Goulash Recipe

This American goulash recipe is exactly what you need in your meal rotation. It’s a simple but flavorful ground beef and pasta recipe in a beefy, tomato broth seasoned to perfection and cooked in the Crock Pot. It’s an easy recipe that my kids ask for again and again.

All opinions are truthful to my experience with the product. This post contains affiliate links that will earn me a small commission when used to order from Sfoglini.

American goulash, also called “American Chop Suey” in some parts of the US, is different from Hungarian goulash. Hungarian goulash is more like a beef stew served alongside egg noodles and pickled vegetables. American goulash is like a fancy, more adult beefaroni. And I love it!

Seasoned ground beef, bell peppers, and onions are slow-simmered in a beefy, tomato-based broth in your Crockpot. This simple recipe is mostly hands-off to make, and the whole family raves about it. I like using the Sfoglini Radiators pasta for this recipe but other small pasta can work.

Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Goulash

• Easy to make – and almost the whole thing is done in the Crockpot, so it’s pretty hands off too.
• It’s absolutely delicious – Everyone is always asking for seconds when I make this
• Customizable – You can make it mild or add more spiciness depending on individual taste.

What Is Sfoglini Pasta?

Sfoglini brand pasta combines the very best Italian techniques with American ingredients. It is made from organic whole grain, rye, einkorn, spelt flours, and emmer, all grown on North American farms and milled in the US. Plus, Sfoglini Pasta is organic and non-GMO. Its operations are based in New York. You can learn more about the company → here.

Sfoglini Pasta Monthly Pasta Club

The Sfoglini pasta club offers quarterly shipping. With that membership, you get six boxes of pasta delivered to your doorstep every three months. There will be three boxes of Sfoglini semolina pasta, three boxes of Sfoglini specialty pasta, and six recipe cards! There’s a 6 month membership option and a full-year option! See more → here.

Ingredients For Crockpot Goulash

Ground Beef – Cook and drain off the grease. You can use whatever percentage of fat ground beef you like. You can even use plant-based ground “meat” to make this recipe vegan.

White Onion – Yellow onion can also be used, but white onion has a subtler flavor. I’d avoid red onions in this recipe.

Johnny’s Seasoning Salt– You can use a different seasoning salt, I love to support this local PNW company.

Sfoglini Radiator Pasta – Smaller pasta like elbow macaroni is the traditional choice in American goulash, but these radiators were a fun shape to use!

Red Bell Pepper – You can use any color bell pepper. I like the way the red bell pepper complements the color pattern of the dish and doesn’t stand out too much.

Minced Garlic – I prefer to use fresh garlic. If you are using jarred minced garlic, add a little extra because it doesn’t have the same intensity of flavor as fresh.

Pasta Sauce 

Beef Broth – Switch for vegetable broth or plant-based beef broth if making this vegan.

Diced Tomatoes – I use canned because it’s easier, but you can dice your own fresh tomatoes too

Crushed Tomatoes

Worcestershire Sauce – Make sure to use an anchovy-free variety if you have a fish allergy

Italian Seasoning

Salt and Pepper

How To Make Crockpot Goulash

This Crock Pot American goulash is easy to make. Brown your beef, chop your vegetables, and combine your ingredients in the Crockpot. 

Brown your ground beef with the chopped onion and seasoning salt. Now if you have frozen cooked ground beef in your freezer you can thaw and use that too, see my post on how to -> here!

Drain the grease.

Chop your bell pepper. Picky kid tip I chop mine in bigger pieces so my son can easily pick it out.

Spray your Crockpot with non-stick spray or line it with a Crockpot liner. I used an 8-quart crockpot to make mine.

Crockpot LinersNonstick Sprays

 

Add all the ingredients except the pasta to your crockpot. The order of the ingredients doesn’t matter.

Allow the goulash to cook on low for 4- 6 hours in the crockpot. You can stir occasionally or just allow it to cook without stirring. Mine cooked for five hours.

Boil your pasta to the directions on the box and strain.

Stir in the cooked pasta into the crockpot.

Turn to keep warm and serve!

How To Store Leftover Goulash

Store any leftover goulash in a well-sealed, airtight container in the refrigerator. Stored properly, leftovers will be good for 4-5 days.

To freeze leftovers, fill a freezer-safe ziplock bag most of the way but not all the way. Remove all the air from the bag before sealing. Freeze the goulash flat in the bag to save freezer space.

Storing leftovers properly requires the right tools! My preferred storage method is if the leftovers can be sealed in a food saver. If not, then an air-tight container or Ziploc bag for the fridge is the way I go. The airtight container or a freezer Ziploc bag are the next best bet for freezing the leftovers. I also use a food scale to measure portions into serving sizes.

Alternate & Substitute Ingredients for Goulash

This goulash recipe is easily customizable to suit your family’s tastes. Here are a few options to switch or spice things up.

• Add some smoked paprika for a deep, earthy flavor.
• Use a little cayenne pepper if you want a spicier dish.
• You can use ground turkey or ground chicken for leaner meat.
• Top with sour cream and cheese for a creamier goulash.
• Use vegetable broth and plant-based ground beef like the ones available from Beyond Meat or Impossible to make this a vegan-friendly recipe easily. (the Sfoglini Radiator Pasta is vegan)

What Do I Serve With Slow Cooker Goulash

This goulash goes great with so many options! I’ve included a few here for you to try.

Bread: Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread, Garlic Parmesan Biscuit Pull Part Bread, English Muffin Garlic Cheese Bread, Easy Cheesy Monkey Bread, Corn Bread

Side Dishes: Air Fryer Bacon Asparagus, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes, Air Fryer Brussell Sprouts, Green Beans, Caesar Salad, Acorn Squash, Green Salad, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Air Fryer Broccoli, Grilled Zucchini, Grilled Corn On The Cob, Air Fryer Zucchini Chips, Macaroni And Cheese, Broccoli Salad

Desserts: Coca-Cola Chocolate Cake, Crescent Roll Peach Dumplings, 2 Ingredient Strawberry Cake, 2 Ingredient Cherry Cake, Watermelon Feta Salad, Oreo Fluff, Pink Fluff, Shark Sand Cups, Funfetti Cake Dip, No Bake Dessert Recipes, Pumpkin Bars, Fruit Salad, Smore’s Cookies

What is your go-to crockpot comfort food? What would you make with Sfoglini Radiator Pasta?

Crockpot Recipes To Check Out

Crockpots are versatile and perfect for making meals without much work or effort. I use mine constantly! Below are some of my favorite collections of recipes I’ve made in my kitchen. Slow Cooker recipes are an easy way to get dinner on the table.

• Chicken Crockpot Recipes
• Crockpot Soup Recipes
• Weeknight Dinner Recipes
• Ground Beef Crockpot Dinners
• Crockpot Cinnamon Rolls
• Crockpot Appetizers