Cheesy Goulash in the Crock-pot with uncooked macaroni with cream cheese and a jar of spaghetti sauce is an easy way to make this Old Fashioned dinner for your family. Just one of my kids favorite Crockpot recipes I make almost every single month!
First we made this Instant Pot creamy goulash style with spicy ground sausage for some heat! This is the low and slow method of basically the same thing. Which one I use depends on how much time I have but this one can be thrown in at lunch time and ready for dinner.
You will have to do just a tad bit of prepping before you throw it all into your pot, but it doesn’t take long. Yes we have cooked Crockpot ground beef beforehand and then use that but it’s just quicker to brown it in a skillet and then dump right in. You can soften the onions at the same time that way too.
Goulash with Uncooked Noodles
As for the noodles, choose whatever shape you like. I stick to small or medium sizes, either shells or macaroni noodles but the only difference between them all is how long they take to get tender. Do NOT boil them separately, you will loose out on max flavors that way. Instead this is how to cook noodles in a slow cooker, it’s not rocket science y’all.
Do you have to cook the meat first?
Yes, as for the meat you can use your protein of choice. Ground turkey will be leaner but without as much flavor. Beef should be 80/20 with a bit of fat because that means more flavor. If you want a bit of heat you can do 1/2 lb. of beef and 1/2 of the Jimmy Dean hot sausage like we did with Crockpot Hamburger Casserole.
How to Make Goulash Cheesy
We are going to add a few things for this, the first is cream cheese (and don’t go for the low fat block friends we are about all the flavor). Then you will want to go further (if you want) and add shredded cheddar in the last 30 minutes to melt in as well as mayyyyyybe topping each bowl with some shreds too. 😉
Can you use Velveeta instead of cream cheese?
You can add more shredded cheddar cheese (a bit overkill if you ask me), but comfort food nontheless. You could make this with the other block like we did with our Velveeta Hamburger Helper.
How Long to Cook Goulash in Crockpot
You’re just going to cook all your other ingredients on low for a few hours. It says 3 but that is flexible. If there’s no way you’ll get back to it until 4 hours that is okay too. You don’t want to go TOOOO long or the dairy will begin to get weird. Then 30 minutes (or so) before you want to eat, submerge the pasta and cheese so it can “boil” to tender and ooey gooey.
Dairy Free Option
To make this dairy free goulash it is really really easy, just leave out the cream cheese entirely!! I did see the other day one at the store that was lactose free though so you could give that a whirl. I haven’t tasted it yet but my husband is lactose intolerant and I’ve tried a lot of the Daiya products and they are pretty darn good.
If you wanted to skip the cheesy you probably wouldn’t be here but you may want to compare the two once you fall in love with this one. SO I created this Crockpot Hamburger Helper recipe as far as that is concerned….. Lower in fat for sure it is excellent as well for sure, just doesn’t have that creamy sauce to it.
Recipe Tips
If you can stir every 10 minutes for the noodles that is ideal so they don’t clump together but not super necessary. Once noodles are done cooking you can top with parsley. Diced tomatoes can be added to the top for a bit of freshness too if you like. Enjoy, when done cool and store in freezer safe bags to reheat next day!
Other Optional Ingredients to Add
Adding diced bell peppers and/or green peppers can add color, sweetness, and a subtle crunch to the dish. Fresh or canned tomatoes can provide acidity and depth of flavor. You can use diced tomatoes, tomato paste, or a combination of both.
Paprika is a key spice in goulash, imparting a rich color and a characteristic smoky, sweet flavor. You can use sweet, smoked, or a combination of paprika varieties. Fresh or dried herbs like thyme, bay leaves, Italian seasonings, marjoram, or caraway seeds can be added for extra flavor.
Stirring in a bit of sour cream towards the end of cooking can add creaminess and a slight tang. For some heat, you can add diced chili peppers, roasted jalapeños or red pepper flakes. A splash of Worcestershire sauce can enhance the umami flavors of the dish.
Cheesy Goulash in the Crockpot Recipe
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, or spicy ground sausage, or half and half
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt, or more to taste at end
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce, 24 oz.
- 4 cup beef broth
- 1 block cream cheese
- 1.5 cup pasta, shells or elbow macaroni noodles
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, optional
Instructions
- In a large pan pour the oil and cook the onions, garlic and ground beef on medium heat until slightly browned. Add the seasonings to the beef and stir. Drain the grease.
- Pour in the beef broth, spaghetti sauce and meat mixture into the slow cooker and stir. Add in the softened cream cheese, cut into small chunks and dropped on to the top, don’t stir. Close the lid and let cook for 3 hours on low.
- 30 minutes before it’s ready to serve, stir the cream cheese and shredded cheese around and add the pasta shells and stir that around also, making sure all the shells are submerged in the sauce so they can cook to tender.
- Stir every 10 minutes. Once noodles are done cooking you can top with parsley
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Remember that this is a versatile slow cooker recipe dish, the ingredients you choose can be adjusted based on your preferences and what you have available. Like with our chopped cheese sandwich I will sometimes add red pepper flakes to add heat which is easy.. The combination of flavors and textures is what makes traditional and now American goulash so delightful. Feel free to experiment to create your perfect version.
Looks good