Growing up, goulash was not a meal that was served in my home, let alone Hungarian Goulash. My parents are both British and goulash just wasn’t a dish they were familiar with. After I got married, I was introduced to the Americanized version of goulash that consists of ground beef, lots of green pepper and a tomato sauce which was served over macaroni noodles. I actually know this as a dish pretty similar to chili mac.
Hungarian Goulash Recipe
After doing a little searching, I’ve found that over the years goulash has been adapted in many forms and it’s different for everyone. Hungarian goulash is similar to a soup or stew, depending on the thickness of your liquids, and usually contains a large amount of paprika.
ANOTHER RECIPE YOU MIGHT LIKE: Crockpot Lasagna
The thing that really caught my eye was that it was made with beef chuck roast, not ground beef.
I’ve always loved a good stew and was totally ready to give this a try. I didn’t want to offend any Hungarians out there, so I did my research. I used the basic ingredients of Hungarian Goulash and adapted it to my tastes, which is what it seems everyone does as there are so many different versions!
For Hungarian Goulash you will need:
- 2 pounds beef chuck roast cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/4 cup sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
- 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
- 2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 heaping tablespoon all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic about two cloves
- 1 14- ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes undrained
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 4 medium carrots cut into 1/2″ pieces
- 3 medium parsnips cut into 1/2″ pieces
- 5 oz sweet peppers chopped
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Egg noodles
Helpful kitchen tools:
How to Make Hungarian Goulash
There’s a small amount of prep work involved before dropping everything into the slow cooker.
- First, you’ll need to cut your chuck roast into 1-inch pieces.
- Next, combine herbs, spices, salt, pepper and flour in a gallon sized zipper plastic bag.
- Add the cubed meat to the bag, seal and shake to coat.
- Meanwhile, sauté the onion and garlic in the skillet, then add entire contents of meat shaking bag to the onion mixture. Do not discard any extra spice mixture in the bag, add it all to the skillet. Cook, turning occasionally until meat is browned well.
- Add canned tomatoes and its juices and stir. Turn off heat.
- Add meat mixture to the slow cooker crock, using a rubber spatula to ensure you get all of the sauce from the skillet.
- Add the beef broth and the Worcestershire sauce stir gently. Add the parsnips and carrots and stir. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours (or low for 6-8), or until meat and vegetables are tender.
- Add chopped sweet peppers during the last hour of cooking.
- Remove lid from slow cooker and turn up to high. Put a pot of water on the stove for your egg noodles and bring to a rolling boil.
- Remove about 1/4 cup of liquid from the slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, measure out the cornstarch. Slowly add the liquid from the slow cooker to the cornstarch, stirring as you go. Only add small amounts at a time, stir, then add more. Adding the liquid all at once will cause your cornstarch to clump and it will be impossible to smooth out. Once you have added enough liquid to make the cornstarch mixture thin, add the cornstarch mixture to the slow cooker and stir. Allow the slow cooker to cook on high, uncovered, to thicken the stew while your egg noodles cook.
- Add your egg noodles to the boiling water and cook according to package directions. Drain and serve thickened goulash over cooked egg noodles.
Want more recipes for your slow cooker?
Try my crockpot mac and cheese and our favorite crockpot roast beef!
More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Mississippi Pot Roast
- Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
- Slow Cooker BBQ Meatball Subs
- Slow Cooker Pinto Beans
- Beef Bourguignon
Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash & Noodles
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 2 pounds beef chuck roast cut into 1-inch cubes
- ¼ cup sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
- 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
- 2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 heaping tablespoon all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic about two cloves
- 1 14- ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes undrained
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 4 medium carrots cut into 1/2″ pieces
- 3 medium parsnips cut into 1/2″ pieces
- 5 oz sweet peppers chopped
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Egg noodles
Before You Begin
Instructions
- Combine paprika, caraway seeds, marjoram, Kosher salt, flour, and black pepper in a large plastic zipper bag. Place cubed meat into the bag and close, then shake to coat.
- Saute chopped onion in olive oil until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and sauté another 30 seconds.
- Add entire contents of meat shaking bag to the onion mixture in the skillet. Cook, turning occasionally until meat is browned well. Add canned tomatoes and its juices and stir. Turn off heat.
- Add meat mixture to the slow cooker crock, using a rubber spatula to ensure you get all of the sauce from the skillet. Add the beef broth and the Worcestershire sauce stir gently. Add the parsnips and carrots and stir.
- Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours (or low for 6-8), or until meat and vegetables are tender. Add chopped sweet peppers during the last hour of cooking.
- Remove lid from slow cooker and turn up to high. Put a pot of water on the stove for your egg noodles and bring to a rolling boil.
- Remove about 1/4 cup of liquid from the slow cooker. In a medium bowl, measure out the cornstarch. Slowly add the liquid from the slow cooker to the cornstarch, stirring as you go. Only add small amounts at a time, stir, then add more. Adding the liquid all at once will cause your cornstarch to clump and it will be impossible to smooth out. Once you have added enough liquid to make the cornstarch mixture thin, add the cornstarch mixture to the slow cooker and stir. Allow the slow cooker to cook on high, uncovered, to thicken the stew while your egg noodles cook.
- Add your egg noodles to the boiling water and cook according to package directions. Drain and serve thickened goulash over cooked egg noodles.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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Juliet says
Sorry Amanda, that’s neither Hungarian nor a gulash… I’d say a meat stew of unknown origin.
Amanda Formaro says
I didn’t want to offend any Hungarians out there, so I did my research. I used the basic ingredients of Hungarian Goulash and adapted it to my tastes, which is what it seems everyone does as there are so many different versions! I’ve found that over the years goulash has been adapted in many forms and it’s different for everyone. Hungarian goulash is similar to a soup or stew, depending on the thickness of your liquids, and usually contains a large amount of paprika.
Kim5309 says
You forgot to include the flour in the instructions portion of the recipe. If someone prints the recipe as I did, they will not know what to do with the flour. Thank you for the recipe and helpful pictures.
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks so much for pointing that out, I have corrected the instructions.
Lisa says
Hello, I’m hosting Christmas and having 20 people. I was thinking of tripling the receipt and cooking it in a Dutch oven on the stovetop. Any recommendations?
Richard Quinn says
This recipe is amazing! Easy to prepare and wonderful tasting.
Helena Strang says
I’ve made this recipe several times, and we always enjoy it. I add 1 tbsp Gryffon Ridge Smoked Parika-Hot, gives just a bit of heat. Love this!
Enes Djuric says
Its close but not so close.
Instead of flower and cornstarch you use diced yellow onions that has been previously carmelized in the pan. After onion caramelization you would add cube cut beef chunks. The key is…you put same amount of onion weight as the weight of meat. Example 1 lb of meat= 1 lb of yellow onions. Never lesser quantity of onions than the meat. Thats the thickening.You also need hungarian sweet paprika, hungarian spicy paprika..black pepper, salt, tomato paste , few tomatoes, Vegeta( fine mixture of dried vegetables and seasoning), garlic, parsley, 2 pieces of bacon( preferred smoked bacon), water, oil, ..and few other things. The key is also..after cooking the meat and all ingredients… about 10 minutes before cooking is finished you mast add whats called a Magic mixture. That is the correct amount of parsley , bacon, and garlic that has been cut finely into a patte. Texture like chicken patte. Than you add half of spoon of that magic patte. The correct amount of rest of the ingredients I am not going to write. Its a secret.
Debbie G says
I made it the way Amanda has the recipe written and it was delicious! I wouldn’t change a thing!
Madeleine says
I go skiing in the alps every year and the Gulasch soups they serve there are just the BEST. I’ve tried to match that flavour when making Gulasch myself, but have never succeeded – until now! Great recipe! Thanks a ton!
Amanda Formaro says
Wonderful feedback, thank you so much!
thomas rooff says
How can I purchase a Crock Pot as shown in the Hungarian Goulaush recipe. Crock Pot with snap-on lid and stirrers.
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Thomas. There is a link to the slow cooker on Amazon right below the photo of the stirring attachments.
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
That looks so good and I love that slow cooker!
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks Angie!
kate says
This sounds amazing! I’m going to try it this weekend! Yum!
Jayne says
I love all your recipes and I particularly like the beef roast so I’d have to give that a go in my new Crock Pot ;) lol This recipe looks good too and I love trying new things.
Rennie says
Roast Beef Stew!
Amy says
Do you also have a recipe for Chicken Paprikash?