Slow Cooker Goulash (Hungarian Beef Stew Recipe)

Looking for a hearty, easy meal? Try this Slow Cooker Goulash recipe with tender chunks of beef wrapped in a rich tomato sauce. This Hungarian Beef Stew is perfect for busy weeknights-minimal prep, all the flavour, and no extra work in the evening!

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Recipe Highlights

• Easy slow cooker recipe - minimal prep, all the flavour!
• Perfect for busy weeknights - no extra work involved in the evening - simply tuck in!
• This simple recipe is suitable for beginners, just like our Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne!
• Enjoyed by the whole family - even the little ones. 

But What Is A Hungarian Goulash?

Goulash is a delicious beef stew that's popular in central Europe, especially Hungary. It's made by simmering beef slowly over low heat with spices (paprika takes the spotlight here) and tomato sauce.

Our traditional Hungarian goulash recipe creates an authentic Hungarian goulash that's the perfect comfort food. It's rich and hearty, ideal for cosy meals.

Ingredients and Substitutes

Whilst the list of ingredients may seem long, these are just simple ingredients, most of which you may already have in your cupboards. 

• neutral oil: like vegetable or sunflower oil. 
• braising steak, stewing beef or similar: cut into bite-size pieces. 
• plain (all-purpose) flour. 
• salt & black pepper.
• brown onions: can be replaced with red onion or shallots. 
• garlic cloves.
• bell peppers: we used yellow and red bell pepper, but you can use all red pepper or add in green pepper - it's a mix-and-match situation.
• tinned chopped tomatoes. 
• tomato paste: a.k.a. tomato purée.
• paprika: if you can, use Hungarian sweet paprika but regular paprika will work too.  
• smoked paprika. 
• brown sugar: light or dark. you may omit it or add some honey instead. 
• beef stock or beef broth: we use a stock pot. 
• sour cream or creme fraiche.

Find the quantities, full recipe and nutritional information in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

The Best Cut of Meat To Use For Slow Cooker Goulash

For slow-cooker Hungarian goulash, I recommend using stewing or braising beef (which is often a beef chuck). It's a tougher cut, but it becomes tender and flavoursome when cooked slowly. We use it for our Slow Cooker Beef Massaman Curry too.

Just grab some beef chuck from the store or your local butchers, and you are on your way to make the best slow cooker goulash ever. 

Step-By-Step Method

1. Place chunks of meat with salt, pepper and flour in a large mixing bowl and mix just enough to coat.

2. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large skillet, and fry the beef over medium-high heat in batches just enough to brown all over.

3. Spoon the browned beef in the bowl of your slow cooker.

4. To the same pan, add the onions, pepper and garlic and stir-fry on high heat until charred, but not soft (this is just to collect any leftover flavours from searing the beef in the pan). Tip the vegetables in the slow cooker.

5. Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato puree (paste in the US), paprika and smoked paprika, sugar and the stock into the slow cooker. Give everything a stir and put the lid on.

6. Set it on low setting for 8 hours, or high for 4-5 hours (note that cooking time will depend on each individual slow cooker). The beef cubes should be melt-in-the-mouth tender when cooked.

7. Swirl the sour cream into your slow-cooked goulash and serve garnished with parsley.

What To Serve Beef Goulash With?

Serve slow-cooked beef goulash with pasta cooked al dente (elbow macaroni noodles are the most popular). Alternatively, it goes oh-so-well with simple boiled white rice, cheesy polenta or creamy mashed potatoes. 

Add a nutritious side dish and some freshly baked bread to make it a complete meal. We recommend some of the vegetable side dishes below:

Storage and Reheating

Leftover Slow Cooked Goulash should be cooled to room temperature and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

A great way to meal prep is to freeze it in individual portions, then thaw and reheat it on busy weeknights as and when needed. It freezes beautifully, and we think it actually tastes even better than freshly made. 

To reheat, scoop the goulash into a pan and stir on low-medium heat until piping hot. Alternatively, it can be reheated in a microwave. 

Recipe FAQs

More Slow Cooker Recipes To Try Next Time

I hope you enjoyed this easy goulash recipe. If you want our suggestion on what to try next it will have to be our Slow Cooker Gammon Glazed With Brown Sugar or Slow Cooker Satay Chicken or Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken.

If you too enjoy an effortless slow cooker dinner, have a look at some of our scrumptious slow cooker recipes below:

Slow Cooker Beef Goulash

Looking for a hearty, easy meal? Try this Slow Cooker Goulash recipe with tender chunks of beef wrapped in a rich tomato sauce. This Hungarian Beef Stew is perfect for busy weeknights-minimal prep, all the flavour, and no extra work in the evening!

4.92 from 12 votes

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Hungarian

Servings 4 -6 portions

Calories 608 kcal

Equipment

• Slow Cooker

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 2 tablespoon neutral oil
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) braising steak stewing beef or similar, cut into bite-size pieces
• 3 tablespoon flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2-3 brown onions cut into wedges
• 3 garlic cloves thinly sliced
• 2 bell peppers desseded and cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 x400g tins of chopped tomato
• 2 tablespoon tomato puree a.k.a. tomato paste in the US
• 1.5 tablespoon paprika
• 1.5 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 300 ml (1¼ cups + 3 tablespoon ) beef stock
• 200 g (¾ cups + 2 heaped tbsp) sour cream or creme fraiche

Instructions

 

• Place beef chunks with salt, pepper and flour in a large mixing bowl and mix just enough to coat.
• Heat a drizzle of oil in a large frying pan, and fry the beef in batches just enough to brown all over.
• Spoon the browned beef in the bowl of your slow cooker.
• To the same pan, add the onions, pepper and garlic and stior-fry on hight heat until charred, but not soft (this is just tp collect any leftover flavorus from searing the beef in the pan). Tip the vegetables in the slow cooker.
• Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato puree (tomato paste in the US), paprika and smoked paprika, sugar and the stock into the slow cooker. Give everything a stir and put the lid on.
• Set it on low setting for 8 hours, or high for 4-5 hours (note that cooking time will depend on each individual slow cookers). The beed cubes should be melt-in-the-mouth tender when cooked.
• Swirl the sour cream into your slow cooked goulash and serve garnished with parsley.

Nutrition

Calories: 608kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 61gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 187mgSodium: 987mgPotassium: 1694mgFiber: 6gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 3962IUVitamin C: 107mgCalcium: 170mgIron: 8mg

Keyword Beef Goulash In A Slow Cooker, Hungarian Beef Stew, Slow Cooked Goulash, Slow Cooker Beef Goulash, Slow Cooker Goulash

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