Crockpot American Beef Goulash (Comfort Food Classic)

One of the best and easiest Crock Pot Goulash Recipes with Ground Beef, this American Style Goulash cooks almost entirely in the Slow Cooker, for an easy and delicious dinner the whole family will enjoy, with a rich tomato based sauce, ground beef, and plenty of pasta!

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How to make American Crock Pot Goulash with Ground Beef

A great hearty meal for busy weeknights, this Crock Pot Goulash (American Style), is one of the ultimate comfort foods for a cool night's dinner. This tasty treat (also known as American Choy Suey) is a go-to recipe for getting dinner on the table with very little prep!

What sets this Goulash Apart

For this version of Crock Pot Goulash, you'll first cook down peppers and onions, then th ground beef with some garlic and tomato paste to build flavor. After that, all the magic happens in the slow cooker! This is truly the Best Slow Cooker Goulash, loaded with flavor from canned fire roasted diced tomatoes, smoked paprika, spices, and Worcestershire sauce! Just add some of your favoriye pasta at the end of cooking time right in the Crockpot for an easy meal the whole family will love!

Ingredients

The perfect comfort food, this American Crock Pot Goulash with Ground Beef comes together with a small amount of prep, right in the Crock Pot! Here's what you'll need to make this easy and delicious slow cooker recipe:

• Butter, for cooking down the onions and peppers.
• A small yellow onion.
• A green pepper or bell pepper.  
• 1 pound ground beef. You can use lean ground beef, or a higher fat content beef, and drain off the excess fat. I prefer the juicy ground beef you get from an 80/20 blend, and then draining off the excess fat. I find 80/20 to be an overall more flavorful ground beef.
• Fresh garlic cloves.
• Tomato paste. This helps add a great depth of flavor to the dish.
• A can of tomato sauce.
• A couple cans of fire roasted diced tomatoes. I love the extra flavor boost the fire roasted tomatoes bring to the American Goulash.
• Beef broth or beef stock.
• Worcestershire sauce.  This adds a bit of extra umami boost to the Goulash.
• Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and bay leaves.
• Elbow macaroni noodles or Cavatappi noodles.
• 1 cup sharp shredded cheddar cheese (optional) 
• Salt and black pepper, to taste. I like to season throughout the cooking process, and taste at the end and adjust as necessary.

How to make American Crock Pot Goulash with Ground Beef (aka "American Chop Suey")

This American Goulash comes together quickly and easily, with only a small amount of stovetop time before transferring to the Slow Cooker. Here's how to make it:

1. Melt butter in a large skillet (or cast iron skillet) over medium heat. 
2. Add onion and bell pepper. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stir occasionally until softened, 5 minutes. 
3. Add beef and season again with salt and pepper. Cook until browned, 5-6 minutes. Drain off any excess fat, if desired. 
4. Add garlic and tomato paste, and cook, stirring occasionally until tomato paste is deepened in color, 2-3 minutes. 
5. Transfer to the crockpot, along with remaining ingredients - tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce , paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and bay leaf. 
6. Cover and cook in crockpot for 2-3 hours on high, or 4-6 hours on low (Goulash can simmer on low up to 8 hours prior to adding the noodles). 
7. Remove bay leaves. Turn the slow cooker to high (if cooking on low) and add the pasta in the last 30 minutes of cooking time until cooked to desired doneness. (Be sure to check every so often so it doesn’t overcook, as some pasta cooking times vary). 
8. Stir in cheese, if desired, and serve! (see full printable recipe card below for full instructions and ingredients list).

American Goulash VS Traditional Hungarian Goulash -What's the difference?

 Traditional Hungarian Goulash calls for the slow-simmered beef (usually stew meat) with vegetables and Hungarian paprika. It's more of a hearty stew, and is enjoyed in Central Europe. The American Version (sometimes also called American Chop Suey) calls for ground beef rather than stew meat, and cooks the noodles in the pot alongside the sauce and beef. Both are delicious, but very different.

What to serve with the American Goulash

While this American Goulash is a complete meal in itself, it also goes great with a side salad and some garlic bread or biscuits!

Substitutions and Additions

This Crockpot Goulash recipe is easily adapted to work with your preferences, as well as what you have on hand in your refrigerator and pantry. Here are some great swaps and additions you can use to make this recipe your own:

• Use ground turkey in place of the ground beef.
• Try an equal amount of your favorite pasta sauce or marinara in place of the canned tomato sauce.
• Add a splash of soy sauce for an extra umami flavor boost!
• Not a fan of shredded cheddar cheese? Skip it and top the finished Goulash with a sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese.
• Red bell pepper or green bell pepper both work great for this recipe!
• In a hurry? Use jarred minced garlic in place of fresh. You'll need about a tablespoon.
• Try Hungarian paprika or regular paprika in place of the smoked paprika.
• No fire roasted diced tomatoes? Use regular diced tomatoes!
• If you don't have Elbow macaroni noodles or Cavatappi noodles, you can use rotini, bowties, or penne!

Tips for the perfect American Crock Pot Goulash

• For al dente noodles (and the prevent mushy noodles), check your pasta every 10 or so minutes to ensure it doesn't overcook. All pasta varies a bit.
• Don't skip the prep! Make sure to cook down the peppers and onions, brown the meat, and briefly cook out the tomato paste and garlic for best flavor.
• Don't forget to pull those bay leaves! No one wants a crunchy leaf in their bowl!

Storing and Reheating

Allow the leftover goulash to cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Reheating the Goulash

To reheat, briefly microwave until warmed through, or heat in a saucepan on the stove top. You can add a bit of water to loosen it up if needed.

Freezing the American Crock Pot Goulash

If you plan to freeze the Goulash, I would recommend omitting the pasta, then adding cooked pasta to it after reheating, just before serving. The Goulash (without pasta) can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer safe storage bag.

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More great Crockpot recipes!

If you love this American Crock Pot Goulash with Ground Beef, you'll love these easy and delicious Crock Pot recipes, too!

• Warming Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Dumplings.
• Set it and forget it Crockpot Swedish Meatballs!
• Easy and comforting Crockpot White Chicken Chili.
• My Great Grandma's Classic Sloppy Joe Recipe.
• Try my easy One Pot Cheeseburger Helper Recipe!