Crock Pot American Goulash Recipe
This Crock Pot American Goulash is a comforting and hearty slow-cooked pasta dish featuring ground beef, sweet onions, green peppers, and a savory tomato-based sauce. The elbow macaroni is added towards the end to cook perfectly, making it a convenient and flavorful one-pot meal perfect for busy days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours (slow cooker low) or 2 to 4 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes (low) or 2 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
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 (I like 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, brown and crumble 1 pound of ground beef along with 1 small finely diced sweet onion and 1 finely diced green pepper (optional). Cook until the beef is fully cooked and the onions and peppers are softened. Drain any excess grease.
- Transfer to slow cooker: Place the cooked beef mixture into a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
- Add sauces and seasonings: Stir in 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 24 ounces of pasta sauce, 8 ounces of tomato sauce, 15 ounces of petite diced tomatoes, 1 cup water, 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Do not add the macaroni yet.
- Cook the goulash: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 2-4 hours. This slow simmering allows all the flavors to meld, as the meat and vegetables are already cooked.
- Add macaroni: During the last hour of cooking, stir in 1 cup of uncooked elbow macaroni. Cover and cook until the noodles are al dente or to your preferred tenderness.
- Serve: Once the macaroni is cooked through, serve the goulash hot. It pairs wonderfully with fresh garlic bread and a simple salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Green pepper is optional but adds a nice sweetness and depth of flavor.
- Use a good quality pasta sauce like Rao’s Roasted Garlic Sauce for best taste.
- Adjust cooking time based on your slow cooker model as temperatures may vary slightly.
- For a thicker sauce, you can reduce the water slightly or cook an additional 15-30 minutes uncovered at the end.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
Keywords: Crock Pot, American Goulash, Slow Cooker Pasta, Ground Beef Recipe, Comfort Food, One-Pot Meal
Find it online: https://nataliereeve.com/crock-pot-american-goulash-recipe/
