Cozy Crock Pot Goulash – Best Easy Comfort Food
Crockpot Goulash is the ultimate comfort food, ready in just 3 hours. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to a perfectly tender and flavorful goulash every time. The cozy aroma of this hearty stew will fill your home and make your family beg for seconds. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Try these Grilled Thai Coconut Chicken Skewers for a light and refreshing side dish and Serve this goulash with some crispy Air Fried Potato Chips for a perfect dinner combo.
Why This Cozy Crock Pot Goulash – Best Easy Comfort Food Is Pure Comfort
- Perfect for busy weeknights
- Better than takeout
- My family's favorite comfort food
- Easy to customize with your favorite vegetables
What You'll Need for Cozy Crock Pot Goulash – Best Easy Comfort Food
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- ground beef
- onion
- garlic
- bell pepper
- potatoes
- tomato sauce
- beef broth
- tomato paste
- worcestershire sauce
- salt
- pepper
- bay leaves
- thyme
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- cumin
- brown sugar
- sour cream
- parsley
- Optional: shredded cheese
- Optional: green onions
- Optional: crusty bread
📝 Ingredient Notes
- ground beef: Use 80/20 ground beef for best flavor.
- tomato sauce: You can use canned diced tomatoes instead.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Cooks food evenly and keeps it warm → See on Amazon
- Meat Thermometer — Ensures ground beef is cooked to a safe temperature → See on Amazon
How to Make Cozy Crock Pot Goulash – Best Easy Comfort Food
- Step 1: Brown ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet. Drain excess fat.
- Step 2: Transfer beef mixture to your slow cooker. Add bell pepper, potatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and thyme. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are tender.
- Step 4: Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, and brown sugar. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Step 5: Stir in sour cream and parsley. Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Cozy Crock Pot Goulash – Best Easy Comfort Food
- : For a thicker goulash, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the potatoes. If they're getting too soft, reduce the cooking time or switch to high heat.
- : To make this recipe in the Instant Pot, cook on high pressure for 15 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
- : For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with lentils or mushrooms.
Storing & Reheating Cozy Crock Pot Goulash – Best Easy Comfort Food
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made ahead and frozen or refrigerated. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Freezing Cozy Crock Pot Goulash – Best Easy Comfort Food
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier goulash, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a diced jalapeño.
- Best substitution: Substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the beef and vegetable mixture the night before. Store in the fridge and cook in the slow cooker the next day.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your goulash is too watery, cook it on high heat with the lid off for 10-15 minutes to reduce the liquid.
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Cozy Crock Pot Goulash – Best Easy Comfort Food
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- ground beef
- onion
- garlic
- bell pepper
- potatoes
- tomato sauce
- beef broth
- tomato paste
- worcestershire sauce
- salt
- pepper
- bay leaves
- thyme
Seasonings
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- cumin
- brown sugar
- sour cream
- parsley
Optional Toppings
- shredded cheese
- green onions
- crusty bread
Instructions
- Step 1: Brown ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet. Drain excess fat.
- Step 2: Transfer beef mixture to your slow cooker. Add bell pepper, potatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and thyme. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are tender.
- Step 4: Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, and brown sugar. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Step 5: Stir in sour cream and parsley. Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier goulash, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a diced jalapeño.
- Best substitution: Substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the beef and vegetable mixture the night before. Store in the fridge and cook in the slow cooker the next day.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your goulash is too watery, cook it on high heat with the lid off for 10-15 minutes to reduce the liquid.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and frozen or refrigerated. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 65mg
- Sat. Fat: 5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Cozy Crock Pot Goulash – Best Easy Comfort Food FAQs
Yes, you can make this goulash ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Your goulash may have turned out watery if you added too much liquid or didn't cook it long enough. Try cooking it on high heat with the lid off to reduce the liquid.
Yes, you can make this goulash in the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
This goulash recipe is gluten-free as written. However, always check your specific ingredients to ensure they are certified gluten-free.
Yes, you can add other vegetables to this goulash such as carrots, celery, or corn. Simply add them to the slow cooker with the other vegetables.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Cozy Crock Pot Goulash – Best Easy Comfort Food and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
