Description
Hearty slow cooker American goulash brings comfort to dinner tables with classic midwestern flavors. Rich ground beef and tender pasta combine for a satisfying one-pot meal you’ll crave during chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 24 oz pasta sauce (Rao’s Roasted Garlic Sauce recommended)
- 15 oz petite diced tomatoes
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup water
- 1 small sweet onion (finely diced)
- 1 green pepper (finely diced, optional)
- 2 tsp minced garlic (jarred or fresh)
- 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
Instructions
- Brown ground beef with diced onions and green peppers in a skillet over medium-high heat until meat is fully cooked and vegetables are tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Thoroughly drain excess fat.
- Transfer the meat and vegetable mixture into a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
- Add minced garlic, pasta sauce, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, water, Italian seasoning, and granulated sugar to the slow cooker. Mix ingredients thoroughly, ensuring even distribution.
- Set slow cooker to low temperature for 6-8 hours or high temperature for 2-4 hours, allowing flavors to develop and meld together.
- During the final hour of cooking, introduce uncooked elbow macaroni into the slow cooker. Gently stir to integrate pasta throughout the sauce.
- Continue cooking until macaroni reaches desired tenderness, typically 30-45 minutes.
- Once pasta is cooked and sauce has thickened, turn off slow cooker and let stand for 5-10 minutes to allow slight cooling and further sauce absorption.
- Serve immediately with optional garnishes like fresh parsley or grated parmesan cheese, accompanied by garlic bread and crisp salad.
Notes
- Brown ground beef in a skillet and drain thoroughly to reduce excess fat and create a lighter, less greasy dish.
- Add macaroni only during the last hour of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain the ideal texture, preventing mushy noodles.
- Enhance the depth of taste by using a combination of tomato sauce varieties or adding a splash of red wine for complexity.
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a leaner or vegetarian version of the classic goulash.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 367 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg