• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Short Order Cook

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Food & Fun
  • Travel & Dining
  • Meet Angela
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Food & Fun
    • Travel & Dining
    • Meet Angela
    • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Soups & Salads

    Published: Dec 27, 2021 · Modified: Feb 1, 2023 by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash

    Jump to Recipe

    Hungarian goulash is a hearty stew with a bright flavorful paprika broth.  It's a high-protein stew packed with fork-tender chunks of beef along with some carrots and potatoes.  The rich paprika broth is comforting and warming which makes it the perfect dinner to make when the temperature gets cold outside.  So grab your slow cooker and make this easy recipe for tasty Hungarian goulash and find out why people love it. 

    This slow cooker recipe for traditional Hungarian goulash is a quick and easy homemade recipe that you will want to make all the time. For a comforting taste of Eastern Europe, enjoy this beef goulash recipe that is so easy to make thanks to your Crock-Pot.  This comforting homemade beef stew recipe is gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb, and paleo-friendly.  

    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash PN1 bowl filled ready to eat with crackers spoon napkin

    Goulash (Hungarian: Gulyas) is a soup/stew recipe that is all about the meat and vegetables commonly eaten in Eastern & Central Europe. Classic goulash does not have pasta, macaroni, or ground beef, that's an American version. Do not add macaroni or other pasta to it, enjoy this time-honored recipe that originated in Hungary for what it is, a true meat-lovers goulash. It is a medley of tender beef roast cut into chunks & simple vegetables. 

    The slow cooker is so wonderful at breaking down the meat so it is tender. I love it for tough cuts of beef which turn out amazing like Corned Beef cooked in the slow cooker. But it is also a time saver that "cooks" dinner without much effort like in my CrockPot Chicken Cacciatore recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients for Classic Hungarian Goulash
    • How to Make Goulash in the Slow Cooker
    • How Long to Cook Goulash in a CrockPot
    • What to Serve with Hungarian Goulash 
    • PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!
    • Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash

    Ingredients for Classic Hungarian Goulash

    The key to a really good goulash is to make sure you are using quality ingredients. Since this is a simple meal, the flavors come from the basic ingredients and the freshness of the main ingredients.  For a really tasty goulash, be sure to use good-quality beef.  You can buy stew meat as I did or you can cut up a chuck roast, whichever you prefer or have access to. 

    You also want to use fresh produce and this recipe calls for onion, carrots, and potatoes to make Hungarian goulash. You can use fresh tomatoes as well but I find the juice is important for the broth so I like to use canned. Plus fresh tomatoes are not very good quality here in the winter and that is when I tend to make this stew.  But if you choose to use fresh tomatoes be sure to include any juices that run on the cutting board when you dice them up. 

    For that deep rich broth, a lot of paprika is needed for goulash. I happen to have fantastic sweet and spicy paprika from Hungary in these cute little tins.  

    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash ingredients
    • Beef Stew Meat
    • Carrots
    • Potatoes
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Tomatoes
    • Paprika - sweet & spicy
    • Beef Bouillon
    • Bay Leaf
    • Salt
    • Pepper

    How to Make Goulash in the Slow Cooker

    Once you have all the ingredients for the goulash, begin prepping the little bit you need to do for this easy slow cooker recipe. It is almost a dump-and-go recipe since there is very little to cut.  Plus there is no need to sear or brown the meat beforehand when making this CrockPot goulash.   Everything just goes into the slow cooker insert and the magic happens over the hours of cooking tender meat and soft vegetables.

    Cutting the Beef & Vegetables

    In making slow cooker Hungarian goulash, begin by prepping & cutting the meat and vegetables.  The key to cutting each ingredient is to make them relatively the same size so they cook evenly. I purchased stew meat that was already cut so I just made sure they were all similar in size and only had a few larger chunks to cut in half.   

    Next, peel the potatoes and cut them into bite-sized chunks.  Do the same with the carrots.  You can peel or leave the skin on the carrots.  I leave the peels on the carrots in stews since it becomes soft and tender plus most of the Vitamin C and niacin in carrots is in the peels.   Dice up your onion also. 

    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash cutting board with diced vegetables

    Add Ingredients to the Slow Cooker

    Once everything is cut, you can begin adding the ingredients to the CrockPot.  For the goulash, add the cut chuck roast to the bottom of the insert. Next, add the garlic, bay leaf, & sprinkle on the seasonings.

     
    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash meat in the CrockPot and adding the paprika
     
    Once all the meat and seasonings are in, top it with the cut-up onion, carrots, & potatoes.  Notice how they are all relatively the same size. This helps all ingredients to cook evenly and be ready to eat at the same time. There is nothing worse than having a spoonful of stew but some of the potatoes are still hard but the rest is cooked.  
     
    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash vegetables added to the CrockPot

    For the final items, add in the canned tomatoes, including the juice, and the beef broth. Stir everything to combine in the slow cooker.  Now you are ready to put the lid on and set it to cook. I can cook on low or high, it depends on how many hours until you are ready to eat.

     
    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash tomatoes and broth being added

    How Long to Cook Goulash in a CrockPot

    Goulash in the slow cooker can be ready in as fast as 4 hours. It can also cook even longer if you need it to such as if you are gone for your workday and will not be eating for hours. Depending on your day, please set the slow cooker accordingly with the right setting and time.  It can stay on warm for a few hours even if your slow cooker has that setting.  It will remain lovely and not dry out or overcook. This goulash recipe is great for making when you will be gone up to 12 hours and need to get dinner into the CrockPot. 

    Set the slow cooker to cook the goulash to either heat temperature setting & hour combo:

    • HIGH for 4 hours
    • LOW for 8-10 hours

     How to Tell if Goulash is Done Cooking

    When it is done, the meat will be tender and almost fall apart if you were to use a spoon on it. The potatoes and carrots will be soft and the broth will be a rich red color.  At this time it is done cooking.  You can now remove the bay leaf. You may choose to skim some of the fat off the goulash but I do not. Give the Hungarian goulash a stir and ladle it into serving bowls.  To serve, top with any optional ingredients. Fresh parsley is great and so is a dollop of sour cream to stir into the stew. Serve immediately. Enjoy.

    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash ready in the CrockPot

    What to Serve with Hungarian Goulash 

    Here are some great recipes to serve and eat along with goulash. All these recipe ideas for sides, salads, and fresh-baked types of bread go well with goulash for dinner. These tasty recipes to serve with goulash include keto, low-carb, gluten-free, healthy, and paleo sides.  

    Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo)
    This healthy broccoli salad with carrots, raisins, apples, and cheese is amazing. The creamy greek yogurt dressing is low-fat and made without mayo. It is tangy, crisp, fresh, and sweet in every bite. It holds up great for potlucks and barbecues. It is even great as a leftover, unlike other salads.
     
    Check out this recipe
    Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) overhead featured
    Butternut Squash, Apple, and Kale Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
    Butternut squash and kale make the perfect Fall salad. The crunchy pecans, crisp apples, sweet raisins, and roasted butternut squash make the most amazing Autumn harvest salad recipe.
    Check out this recipe
    Butternut Squash, Apple, and Kale Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
    Easy Homemade Soft Dinner Rolls
    The best soft homemade dinner rolls baked using yeast are easy to make. These rolls are delicious and enjoyed best when warm straight out of the oven.
    Check out this recipe
    Freshly baked easy homemade soft dinner rolls
    Keto Cornbread Chaffles
    Cornbread chaffles made with almond flour are the best Mini Dash keto waffle recipe. A savory low-carb & gluten-free side for chili, soup, or salad.
    Check out this recipe
    Keto Cornbread Chaffles featured 3 fanned chaffles on the left and right is a partial bowl of chili w parsley
    How to Make Artisan Ciabatta Bread
    Homemade rustic artisan ciabatta bread has a crispy crust and a tender chewy inside. This classic Italian recipe comes out so good & is easy to make. There is nothing like fresh-baked bread straight from the oven.
    Check out this recipe
    Ciabatta partially sliced on a cutting board.
    Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli
    Instant pot steamed broccoli is a healthy and easy recipe that comes out perfect every time. In just a few minutes fresh broccoli is cooked and ready to enjoy.  This method works in any electric pressure cooker with or without a steamer basket and results in fresh steamed broccoli that is not mushy. 
    Check out this recipe
    Steamed Broccoli featured in instant pot overhead shot
    Oven- Roasted Green Beans
    These delicious oven-roasted green beans will be a family favorite. The nutty sesame seasoning that includes garlic and onion adds so much flavor. This quick & easy recipe is the best thanks to everything but the bagel seasoning that elevates this simple vegetable side dish.
    Check out this recipe
    Plated oven-roasted green beans sprinkles with everything bagel seasoning

    How to Store, Freeze, & Reheat Goulash

    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash overhead view of a bowl filled and ready to eat plus crackers spoon and red napkin

    PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!

    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash PIN
    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash PINREDO overhead of a bowl full and a spoon to the side

    Product Recommendations for this Recipe - #ad:

     

    The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you! 

    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash recipe card bowl crackers spoon and red napkin

    Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash

    Angela
    This traditional Hungarian goulash is a hearty stew with a bright flavorful paprika broth. Classic goulash is packed with tender beef & vegetables, no pasta or macaroni in this one. Enjoy this comforting Eastern European recipe that is so easy to make thanks to your Crock-Pot
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine European, Hungarian
    Servings 8

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 pounds beef stew meat chuck roast cut into bite-sized pieces
    • 1 onion diced
    • 2 cups beef broth or 2 bouillon cubes & 2 cups of water
    • 1 15oz can diced tomatoes with juice
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 3 Tablespoons sweet paprika see notes above for a spicy version
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 ½ cups carrots diced
    • 2 cups russet potatoes peeled & diced
    • fresh minced parsley OPTIONAL - for topping
    • sour cream OPTIONAL - to stir into goulash when serving

    Instructions
     

    • Begin by prepping & cutting the meat and vegetables.
    • To the slow cooker insert, add the meat, garlic, & seasonings.
    • Next, top the meat with the cut-up onion, carrots, & potatoes.
    • For the final items, add in the canned tomatoes, including the juice, and the beef broth.
    • Stir everything to combine in the slow cooker.
      Set the slow cooker to high for 4 hours or low for 8-10 hours.
    • When done cooking, remove the bay leaf. Ladle into serving bowls and top with any optional ingredients. Fresh parsley is great and so is a dollop of sour cream to stir into the stew.
    • Serve immediately. Enjoy.

    Notes

    Nutrition Facts
    Servings: 8
    Amount per serving  
    Calories 705
    % Daily Value*
    Total Fat 24.7g 32%
    Saturated Fat 8.2g 41%
    Cholesterol 300mg 100%
    Sodium 828mg 36%
    Total Carbohydrate 12.6g 5%
    Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
    Total Sugars 3.4g  
    Protein 102.8g  
    Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
    Calcium 107mg 8%
    Iron 12mg 67%
    Potassium 356mg 8%
    *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.
    Keyword beef, comfort food, crock pot, Eastern European, easy, gluten-free, grain-free, Hungarian, international, low carb, paleo, slow cooker, soup, stew, vegetables

    Did you make this The Short Order Cook Recipe?

    Tag @theshortordercookblog (Instagram & Facebook) or @shortorder_cook (Twitter). 

    I would love to see your latest creations and kitchen adventures.

    « Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop #450
    Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop #451 »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Angela the short order cook on a step stool reaching into the top kitchen cupboard.

    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. I have been cooking since I could pull up a stool to finally reach the counter. I still rely on my trusty stool every day. I am a personal chef & caterer turned blogger that hopes you find something new & tasty to love while you are here.

    More about me →

    This site has links to products/services that may make us a commission. #ad

    Popular

    • Ahi Tuna Poke Nachos with Wontons
    • A set of black pots and pans.
      Best Pots & Pans for Gas Stove
    • Cast Iron Chicken Breast cooked and Sliced in the pan.
      Cast Iron Chicken Breast
    • spicy jalapeno basil moscow mules ready to drink in copper mugs
      Spicy Jalapeno Basil Moscow Mule
    • Homemade Snickers Bars featured 5 stack
      Homemade Snickers Bars
    • Garlic Butter Wings Plated and topped with fresh parsley.
      Garlic Butter Wings
    • A bun topped with 3-ingredient sloppy joe meat and cheese.
      3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes (Gluten-Free)
    • Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream Overhead two bowls of ice cream and black napkin.
      Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream

    The Short Order Cook LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Disclosure Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Meet Angela
    • Meet the Family

    Copyright © 2023 The Short Order Cook LLC All recipes, photos, and articles on this site are the property of The Short Order Cook LLC. You are welcome to share a photo ONLY with an accompanied do-follow link back to this site. Publishing any items as if they were your own is prohibited.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read Privacy Policy
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT