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  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Dinner

    Slow Cooker Beef Goulash

    Published: Oct 13, 2020 ยท Modified: Sep 28, 2022 by Beth Sachs ยท 6 Comments ยท This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Slow Cooker Beef Goulash pin.

    This slow cooker beef goulash is a hearty and warming beef and red pepper stew cooked in a smoky tomato-based paprika sauce. Perfect comfort food that the whole family will love.

    Beef goulash in a slow cooker.

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    I certainly can't claim that this rich beef goulash is authentically Hungarian, but I can tell you that it's tasty and warming and a recipe you'll keep coming back to! Best of all it's made in the slow cooker so has minimal hands-on time!

    👩‍🍳 Love your slow cooker? Why not try my slow cooker hunter's chicken too!

    Jump to:
    • โœ”๏ธ Why should you try it?
    • ๐Ÿฅ˜ Ingredients
    • ๐Ÿ”ช Instructions
    • ๐Ÿด Serving suggestions
    • ๐Ÿ“– Variations
    • ๐Ÿฅก Storage
    • ๐ŸงŠ Suitable for freezing?
    • โ“ FAQS
    • ๐Ÿ˜‹Related recipes
    • Recipe
    • ๐Ÿ’ฌ Comments

    ✔️ Why should you try it?

    • An easy dump and go slow cooker recipe.
    • Suitable for home freezing.
    • The recipe can easily be doubled to feed a crowd.

    🥘 Ingredients

    • Braising Steak - 1kg of braising or stewing steak cut into bitesize pieces.
    • Onion - 1 white onion, sliced.
    • Garlic - 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped.
    • Red Peppers - 2 red peppers, cut into long slices.
    • Passata - alterntively tinned chopped tomatoes can be used, but this will result in a chunkier stew.
    • Tomato Puree - brings a richness to the dish.
    • Sugar - helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes (you could also use honey).
    • Beef Stock - 450ml of beef stock is needed for the recipe.
    • Caraway Seeds - 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds (if you can't get hold of them just leave them out).
    • Hot Paprika and Smoked Paprika - both types are used for maximum flavour.
    • Thickening Granules - or alternatively dredge the beef in plain flour before putting it into your slow cooker basin.
    • Soured Cream and Parsley - to serve.

    🔪 Instructions

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Place the onion, garlic, peppers and paprika into your slow cooker basin.

    Two: Add the bite size chunks of beef on top.

    Three: In a bowl mix together the passata, tomato puree, caraway seeds and beef stock and pour on top of the beef. Give everything a mix and put the lid on.

    Four: Cook on low for 6 - 8 hours until the beef is tender. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of thickening granules and wait for the sauce to thicken up (if you are unable to find thickening granules, dredge the chunks of beef in plain flour before putting them into your slow cooker). Season and serve with soured cream and parsely.

    This slow cooker beef goulash is a hearty and warming stew, with tender chunks of beef and strips of red pepper cooked in a rich and smoky tomato and paprika sauce. Perfect comfort food that the whole family will love.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    I like to serve this easy slow cooker goulash with rice, pasta, air fryer roast potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes or creamy mashed potatoes. Sometimes I serve leftovers as a topping for jacket potatoes the next day.

    📖 Variations

    Try using pieces of pork shoulder instead of beef for a change.

    For a lower-fat alternative to soured cream, use half fat creme fraiche instead, or leave it out altogether.

    🥡 Storage

    The slow cooker goulash can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.

    🧊 Suitable for freezing?

    The goulash can be frozen for up to 3 months. Once the goulash has cooled completely, spoon into a freezer-safe container with a tight-fitting lid. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating in the microwave until piping hot.

    Slow cooker beef goulash served on a bed of rice with soured cream and parsley.

    ❓ FAQS

    Where does beef goulash originate from?

    Although long established as the national dish of Hungary, its origins actually go back as far as the 9th century, when herdsmen would prepare a supply of meat before they left home on long journeys. This was cooked and seasoned, along with onions, on an open fire until all the liquid was gone. Then all that needed to be done was to add boiling water when they were ready to eat!

    By the 16th century, explorers had begun to bring back peppers to Europe from Mexico, which could also be dried to make the spice paprika. Goulash thus evolved to become more stew-like with the addition of peppers, tomatoes and paprika, which is how we know it today.

    What cut of beef is best for beef goulash?

    Cheaper cuts of beef are best for slow cooker goulash. Braising or stewing steak will become tender and fall-apart on slow cooking, and are ideal for this dish.

    😋Related recipes

    Some more slow cooker recipes to inspire you;

    • Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
    • Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne
    • Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
    • Slow Cooker Lamb Breast
    • Slow Cooker Pork Chops
    • Slow Cooker Macaroni Cheese
    • Slow Cooker Pulled Beef
    • Slow Cooker Vegetable and Chickpea Curry
    • Honey Garlic Chicken

    You might also like my chicken goulash recipe too!

    Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date with what's cooking in the Effortless Foodie kitchen! You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too!

    Recipe

    Slow cooker beef goulash in a black slow cooker basin.
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    5 from 6 votes

    Slow Cooker Beef Goulash

    This slow cooker beef goulash is a hearty and warming stew, with tender chunks of beef and strips of red pepper cooked in a rich and smoky tomato and paprika sauce. Perfect comfort food that the whole family will love.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine British, Hungarian
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 6 hours hours
    Total Time 6 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 302kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
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    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker
    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Measuring Jug
    • Measuring Spoons

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 1 kg Braising Steak cut into bitesize pieces
    • 1 Onion peeled and sliced
    • 2 Garlic Cloves peeled and chopped
    • 2 Red Peppers sliced.
    • 1 tablespoon Hot Paprika
    • 2 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
    • 400 g Passata
    • 2 tablespoon Tomato Puree
    • 450 ml Beef Stock
    • 1 teaspoon Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Caraway Seeds
    • 3 tablespoon Thickening Granules (or use plain flour)
    • Salt and Pepper
    • Soured Cream and Parsely to serve

    Instructions

    • Place the onions, garlic, peppers and paprika spices in a slow cooker basin.
    • Place the beef on top of the onion mix.
    • In a bowl mix together the passata, tomato puree, sugar, beef stock and caraway seeds. Pour over the beef and onion mix. Give everything a stir and put on the lid.
    • Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Stir in 3 tablespoon of thickening granules and mix until the sauce begins to thicken. Season and serve with soured cream and parsely.

    Notes

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
    If you are unable to find thickening granules, dredge the beef chunks in plain flour before placing them into the slow cooker.
    Nutrition Facts
    Slow Cooker Beef Goulash
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    302
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    9
    g
    14
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    103
    mg
    34
    %
    Sodium
     
    266
    mg
    12
    %
    Potassium
     
    1187
    mg
    34
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    14
    g
    5
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    7
    g
    8
    %
    Protein
     
    41
    g
    82
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    2758
    IU
    55
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    60
    mg
    73
    %
    Calcium
     
    66
    mg
    7
    %
    Iron
     
    6
    mg
    33
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

    I'm linking this recipe up to #CookBlogShare which this week is hosted by Lost in Food.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janice Pattie

      October 15, 2020 at 6:38 pm

      5 stars
      A perfect Slow Cooker recipe, so easy to make and packed with flavour.

      Reply
    2. Shelley

      October 19, 2020 at 1:33 pm

      5 stars
      I adore "dump-and-go" slow cooker recipes - so very easy for busy weeks! And this is such absolutely wonderful comfort food, just perfect as we're sliding into chilly weather here in Ohio! Even better that it easily doubles and can be frozen, so it's a great make-ahead recipe, too!

      Reply
    3. Erica Schwarz

      October 19, 2020 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      I love dump and go recipes too and this looks perfect even for a weekday. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    4. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

      October 19, 2020 at 2:14 pm

      5 stars
      Love how easy this recipe is. Itโ€™s perfect for our family!

      Reply
    5. Alison

      October 19, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      5 stars
      Goulash reminds me of the kind of home cooked meals my mom would make growing up! This slow cooker version looks simple yet super flavorful!

      Reply
    6. Angela

      October 19, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      5 stars
      Slow cooker recipes are my favorite thing in the fall for great dinners. The delicious smells that meet you at the door. Great dinner recipe.

      Reply
    5 from 6 votes

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    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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