Creamy Goulash in the Crock-pot

Creamy 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!

Slow Cooker Goulash with Uncooked Noodles

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.

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.

Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

1. This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
2. I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

Goulash in a Crockpot

mean that is the way to get all the creaminess right? Don’t go for the low fat block, friends we are about all the flavor with this one and that is just a no go for me, has a strange taste if you ask me. 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.

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 so it can “boil”.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef or spicy ground sausage, or half and half
• Olive oil to brown meat first
• Small onion diced is nice
• 3 tbsp minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Oregano is optional
• 1 jar pf spaghetti sauce, pasta sauce, 24 oz.
• 4 c beef broth or stock
• 1 block of cream cheese softened
• 1.5 c shells or elbow macaroni works great

Variations

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.

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.

Ok so if you wanted to make yours more like hers (love her) you would leave out the cream cheese all together. Or you can just follow our Crockpot Hamburger Helper recipe. Lower in fat for sure it is excellent as well for sure, just doesn’t have that creamy sauce to it.

How to Make Goulash in Crock Pot with Uncooked Macaroni

• 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.
• Cover and cook for 3 hours on low.
• 30 minutes before it’s ready to serve, stir the cream cheese around and add the pasta shells and stir that around also, making sure all the shells are in the sauce and not sticking out.

Tips

If you can stir every 10 minutes 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!

Ingredients to Add to Goulash

This is a traditional Hungarian stew that can be customized with various ingredients to enhance its flavor and texture. Here are some common ingredients you can add;

1. These are fundamental aromatics that provide a strong base of flavor for your goulash.
2. Adding diced bell peppers and/or green peppers can add color, sweetness, and a subtle crunch to the dish.
3. Potatoes are a classic addition to goulash, adding starch and substance to the stew.
4. Fresh or canned tomatoes can provide acidity and depth of flavor. You can use diced tomatoes, tomato paste, or a combination of both.
5. 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.
6. Traditionally, goulash is made with beef. Choose a tender cut, such as chuck or stewing beef, and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
7. Adding beef or vegetable broth enhances the savory flavor of this. You can also use red wine or a combination of wine and broth.
8. Fresh or dried herbs like thyme, bay leaves, Italian seasonings, marjoram, or caraway seeds can be added for extra flavor.
9. Red wine can deepen the flavor of the goulash and add complexity.
10. Stirring in a bit of sour cream towards the end of cooking can add creaminess and a slight tang.
11. For some heat, you can add diced chili peppers, roasted jalapeños or red pepper flakes.
12. A splash of Worcestershire sauce can enhance the umami flavors of the dish.

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. 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.