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How do you make crockpot goulash with uncooked macaroni? Follow my hamburger goulash recipe and find out! This crock pot goulash is an American-style goulash, made with ground beef, macaroni noodles, onions, and tomatoes. Learn how to make the BEST slow cooker goulash that freezes well and feeds a crowd. Plus, find out the difference between Hungarian and American goulash, and other types of goulashes too!
We tried this and it was delicious. My teenage boys made sure there were no leftovers.
– Lynn
Some call this dish American chop suey. Others may refer to it as Johnny Marzetti, or (my favorite!) slumgullion.
Where I grew up, we called this classic dish ground beef goulash. However, it would be more precise to call it American goulash, as there are many types of goulash made worldwide. One thing all these dishes have in common is that they are delicious comfort foods with meat and potatoes (or noodles or bread). Yum!
⭐ Crockpot Goulash Ingredients
What is American goulash made of? American goulash is made (most typically) with ground beef, elbow macaroni noodles, tomatoes, and onions. We don’t use paprika in our version but some recipes for American goulash do.
Here are the ingredients for goulash in crockpot:
- 2 lbs lean ground beef (907 grams)
- 2 cups chopped onion (1 large yellow onion)
- 4 crushed garlic cloves
- 2 cups water (or beef broth)
- 24-ounce jar spaghetti sauce (680 grams marinara sauce)
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes (411 grams)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 12 ounces dry elbow macaroni (340 grams)
Get a printable recipe card at the end of the post!
There are three types of tomatoes going on here: canned diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, and tomato paste. Through years of goulash experimentation, I’ve determined that this trifecta provides the perfect thickness for goulash.
Using diced tomatoes alone leaves your slow cooker goulash too thin. With spaghetti sauce alone, you lose out on the satisfying larger tomato pieces. The goulash can also become too soupy if you add too much sauce.
The combination of tinned chopped tomatoes and tomato sauce gives you an almost perfect goulash thickness with bigger tomato pieces. Add a little tomato paste, and IMVHO things will be just right.
If you don’t like ground beef, you use ground turkey, ground pork, or ground chicken instead. You may substitute Italian seasoning for the basil and oregano.
To make this slow cooker American goulash recipe, you’ll need a cast-iron skillet, a good knife, and a large slow cooker or Instant Pot (use the “slow cooker” function). If you use a small crockpot, you may need to cut the recipe in half.
🥘 How to Make Crockpot Goulash with Uncooked Macaroni
To make hamburger goulash, add the beef and onion to a skillet and let them brown over medium heat, breaking the meat up with a spatula as it cooks. It will take 15-20 minutes.
Hot tip! If you forget to add the onion to the skillet as I sometimes do, you can put them in the crockpot raw. They won’t soften as much and they’ll have more bite, but some prefer them this way.
Next, add all of the ingredients EXCEPT the elbows to your slow cooker. Believe it or not, you’re already ready to cook goulash!
Note: You can use a crockpot to cook dry pasta, but the pasta will absorb a lot of moisture and become mushy if it cooks too long. To ensure this crockpot goulash recipe has the right thickness, we’ll add the macaroni noodles in at the end.
⏲️ Crockpot Goulash Cooking Time and Temperature
How long to cook goulash in slow cooker? Slow cook goulash for 4 hours on low, then add uncooked macaroni and cook 30-40 more minutes. Give it a stir about halfway through cooking time to help ensure more even cooking.
Serve immediately, garnished with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil (if desired). You did it!
🌡️ How to Store Crockpot Hamburger Goulash
Leftover goulash keeps for 3-4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If you plan to put goulash in the freezer, I recommend cooking the pasta on the stove and freezing the meat sauce and pasta separately. This will help prevent the pasta from absorbing the sauce and becoming overly mushy.
It’s best to use a glass container for the meat mixture (the tomatoes will stain plastic containers). Also, if you’re cooking the pasta separately, omit the water from this recipe.
To reheat frozen goulash, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. We like to heat the meat mixture on the stovetop, partially thaw the noodles in the microwave, and then stir everything together. Cooking fresh pasta to go in your leftovers is an even better way to ensure the best texture.
️👪 What makes a good goulash?
Everyone has their own idea of what makes the best goulash! The best goulash recipe for you includes flavors you love, and fits your dietary needs, budget, and time constraints. I’m giving you my basic, easy goulash recipe, but feel free to experiment with some of the options below!
Try one (or more!) of these vegetable add-ins:
- Corn
- Cabbage
- Fresh tomatoes
- Zucchini
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Green beans
- Carrots
- Green bell peppers
- Roasted red peppers
- Mushrooms (Yup, not technically a veggie, I know)
- Other vegetables
Flavor things up differently in hamburger goulash with:
- Chili powder
- Paprika
- Bay leaves
- Red wine
Make your slow cooker goulash thinner or creamier with the following:
- Beef broth (great addition for a crockpot goulash soup!)
- Tomato juice
- Tomato soup
- Cream cheese
- Heavy cream
Swap out the macaroni pasta for one of these:
- Another shape of pasta
- Egg noodles
- Dumplings
- Brown rice
Add a topping for another layer of flavor:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Bacon crumbles
- Chopped fresh herbs
Watch How to Make It!
Crockpot Goulash with Uncooked Macaroni (Slow Cooker Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. lean ground beef (907 grams)
- 2 cups onion, chopped (about 1 large onion)
- 2 cups water (or beef broth)
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 24 ounces marinara sauce (680 grams)
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes (canned) (411 grams)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni, dry (340 grams)
Instructions
- Put beef and onion into a skillet and let it brown on the stovetop over medium heat. Break the meat up with a spatula as it cooks. It will take 15-20 minutes.
- After the meat has cooked, add all of the ingredients EXCEPT the elbows to the slow cooker.
- Cover the crockpot and cook for 4 hours on low. Stir it halfway through cooking time to help ensure more even cooking.
- Add the dry macaroni pasta to the crock pot and cook an additional 30-40 minutes on low. Serve immediately for the best texture.
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). One serving of this goulash made in a crockpot provides 642 calories, 66.2 grams carbohydrates, and 39.2 grams protein. It’s also an excellent source of iron and vitamin C, as well as a good source of vitamin A. Though American-style goulash is rich in protein, it’s lacking in non-starchy vegetables. This means you’re missing out on some of the low-calorie fluid volume you’d get from veggies. As a result, your meal is more energy dense (i.e., a lot of calories packed into a relatively small volume). Sides like roasted spaghetti squash or a green salad can help you balance out the meal. They’ll add more color to your plate, along with a wider array of phytonutrients and more fiber. Veggies should also help to make your meal feel more filling. Nutrition information is for one serving of this hamburger goulash crock pot recipe.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
FAQs
What is the difference between American and traditional goulash?
The ingredients in traditional goulash vary based on where you are from. Here are some types of goulash you’ll find across the globe:
- Hungarian goulash (gulyas): This is a meat and veggie stew with paprika. Traditional Hungarian goulash recipes did not use pasta or tomatoes. Goulash is one of the national dishes of Hungary and there are TONS of variations.
- German goulash: A meat stew often containing red wine. (Beef, pork, venison, and wild boar are commonly used.) The starch used varies by local region and may include potatoes, rice, noodles, or dumplings.
- Austrian goulash: A meat stew with lots of onions but no other vegetables (including tomatoes). Dark bread is often served on the side.
- Polish goulash: Goulash in Poland is similar to Hungarian goulash. It is often served with mashed potatoes, noodles, or dumplings.
How do you thicken goulash in a slow cooker?
Goulash thickens in the slow cooker when you add the dry pasta, as the macaroni absorbs a lot of moisture. You can also leave the lid off the slow cooker to thicken soups and stews.
Do you have to cook raw ground beef before putting it in the crockpot?
You can cook raw hamburger in a crockpot. However, I don’t recommend it for this recipe because browning the ground meat first adds a ton of flavor. If your slow cooker has a “warm” setting, do not use it to cook raw meat. Only the “low” or “high” setting should be used.
How to make vegan goulash?
To make this goulash vegan, swap out the ground beef for a source of plant-based protein. A combination of crumbled tempeh and mushrooms would be SO GOOD, similar in spirit to this tempeh bolognese.
What’s the difference between chili mac and American style goulash?
Unlike goulash, chili mac is typically made with chili (often canned) as a main ingredient. Instead of plain elbow macaroni, boxed mac and cheese is sometimes used for chili mac. The result is a tomato, beef, and noodle dish with more cheese and more heat than American goulash.
🥗 Goulash Side Dishes
What should I serve with goulash? Here are a few side dishes for this goulash crock pot recipe:
👩🏻🍳 Other Crockpot Recipes
Looking for easy crockpot recipes? I’m on it! After you’ve made this crock pot goulash with uncooked macaroni, check these out:
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
Hi, great recipe. How long can you freeze goulash?
Thank you so much! I’ve had no issues freezing it for up to 3 months, and it may be fine for even longer.
We tried this and it was delicious. My teenage boys made sure there were no leftovers. If not for those two the dish would have fed 4 people twice. But not with them around.
BTW, the canned tomatoes mentioned in the instructions above the recipe are not listed as an ingredient in the recipe proper.
Hi Lynn, I’m so glad you and your boys liked the recipe! Nice catch noticing that I didn’t have the tomatoes listed in the ingredients. Sorry about that- it’s fixed now 🙂