Slow Cooker American Goulash

Serving of comforting goulash topped with melted cheese and a sprinkle of herbs.

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 6

Enjoy a comforting bowl of Slow Cooker American Goulash with tender ground beef, hearty elbow macaroni, and rich tomato sauce. Perfectly seasoned, this one-pot meal is easy to prepare and ideal for a cozy family dinner.

PRINT PIN REVIEW SAVE

Servings

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 small sweet onion finely diced
1 green pepper finely diced (optional)
2 teaspoons minced garlic jarred or fresh
24 ounces pasta sauce Rao’s Roasted Garlic Sauce recommended
8 ounces tomato sauce
15 ounces petite diced tomatoes
1 cup water
1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni

Instructions

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef along with the finely diced sweet onion and green pepper, if using. Continue cooking until the meat is fully cooked and the vegetables have softened. Drain any excess grease.
Add the cooked beef mixture to a 4-6 quart slow cooker. Incorporate the minced garlic, pasta sauce, tomato sauce, petite diced tomatoes, water, Italian seasoning, and granulated sugar. Stir well to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Note: Do not add the elbow macaroni at this stage.

Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 2-4 hours. This will allow the flavors to blend and develop.
Approximately one hour before the end of the cooking time, add the uncooked elbow macaroni. Stir to combine, cover, and continue cooking until the noodles are tender yet firm.
Once the pasta is cooked to your preferred consistency, serve the goulash hot. This dish pairs well with garlic bread or a green salad.

Notes

For best results, add the macaroni only in the last hour of cooking to keep it from becoming too soft. This recipe can be made gluten-free by substituting the macaroni with your favorite gluten-free pasta.

Nutrition

Bitty