Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash

This easy Hungarian Goulash, a hearty beef stew, is the ultimate comfort food made even simpler with the convenience of a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash

With a Czech dad, I grew up eating many European comfort foods, especially goulash. This Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash brings me back to those nights when Dad cooked at home. It’s made with chunks of beef and bell peppers in a rich, paprika-infused broth, simmered for hours in the slow cooker until fork
tender. For more hearty stew recipes, try my Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Paprika Chicken Stew.

Why You’ll Love This Hungarian Goulash Recipe

• Convenient: Throw it in the slow cooker earlier in the day, so dinner is ready and waiting 6 hours later.
• Perfect for Meal Prep: It reheats and freezes well.
• Satisfying: This hearty Hungarian goulash is the best for a cozy family meal, especially on cold nights.
• Dietary Restrictions: Weight Watchers-friendly, gluten-free (if using GF flour), high-protein, dairy-free

If you make this slow cooker Hungarian goulash recipe, I would love to see it. Tag me in your photos or videos on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook!

Hungarian Goulash Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to make this traditional Hungarian goulash recipe. The recipe card contains the exact measurements.

• Beef: The best cut of meat for goulash is beef chuck roast.
• Spices: Hot and sweet Hungarian paprika, onion and garlic powder, salt
• Aromatics: Sweet onion and garlic
• Flour thickens the stew.
• Red Bell Peppers bring a subtle sweetness and vibrant color.
• Liquid: The meat cooks in low-sodium beef broth and crushed tomatoes, making it tender and juicy.
• Caraway Seeds are essential for authentic Hungarian goulash. They add a warm, earthy note.
• Brown Sugar is optional, but use it if you prefer a sweeter dish.
• Bay Leaf for a subtle herbal flavor and depth
• Sour Cream: Add before serving for a creamier goulash.

How to Make Hungarian Goulash in the Slow Cooker

Browning the beef is worth dirtying an extra pan. It gives the meat a nice color and enhances its flavor. The printable instructions are on the recipe card below.

Brown the beef.

Saute the onions.

Add everything to the slow cooker and cook 8 hrs on low or high 6 hours.

1. Season the Beef with sweet paprika, hot paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. If you have any leftover spices, add them to the slow cooker with the tomatoes and broth.
2. Brown the Beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Transfer it to the crockpot.
3. Add Everything to the Crock Pot: Stir the bell pepper, broth, crushed tomatoes, caraway, and brown sugar in the slow cooker. Add the bay leaf, cover, and cook on low 8 hours or high 4 to 6 hours.
4. Serve the Goulash with sour cream and more caraway seeds, if desired.

Variations

• Bell Pepper: Substitute a yellow or orange bell pepper.
• Extra Veggies: Add potatoes and carrots to make it heartier.
• Gluten-free Goulash: Use GF flour.
• Segedin Goulash is a Czech/Slovakian stew which omits the potatoes and adds sauerkraut and sour cream. I have this slow cooker recipe in my Fast and Slow cookbook.
• Soup: Add more broth and noodles or potatoes and vegetables.
• Beef and Bean Goulash: Omit the caraway seeds and add a can of kidney beans.
• Meat: Use pork or veal in place of beef. Be sure it’s not lean, or it will be dry.

What is traditionally eaten with goulash?

• Carbs: Serve it with noodles, spatzle (egg noodles), dumplings, or mashed potatoes. Pierogis aren’t traditional but are also delicious. 
• Extra Vegetables: Pair the goulash with roasted carrots, mushrooms, or an arugula salad.

Storage

• Refrigerate: Leftover goulash will last for 4 days in the fridge
• Freeze it in airtight containers for 3 months.
• Thaw it in the refrigerator and reheat it in the microwave or a pot on the stove until warm.

More Beef Stew Recipes You’ll Love

• Beef Stew
• Beef Stew with Pumpkin
• Mexican Beef Stew
• Beef and Kabocha Squash Stew
• Crock Pot Carne Guisada

Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash

1 Cals:406 Protein:51.5 Carbs:22 Fat:13.5 Fiber:5.5 This easy Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash, a hearty beef stew, is the ultimate comfort food made even simpler with the convenience of a crockpot. Course: Dinner, main dish Cuisine: Hungarian

Prep: 20 minutes minsCook: 6 hours hrs 20 minutes minsTotal: 6 hours hrs 40 minutes mins Print Rate Pin Save Saved! WW Points Yield: 4 servings Serving Size: 3 /4 cup (generous) 1x2x3x

Equipment

• Slow Cooker

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
• 2 teaspoons sweet Hungarian paprika
• 1 teaspoon hot paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups sweet onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 tablespoons flour, all purpose or gluten-free
• 2 cups red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup low sodium beef broth
• 1 cup crushed tomato
• 1 teaspoon caraway seed, plus more for garnish
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar, optional
• 1 dry bay leaf
• Sour cream, optional for serving

Instructions

• Toss beef with sweet paprika, hot paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and salt.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Brown the beef on all sides in two batches. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker.
• Add onion, garlic and flour to the pan the beef was cooked in; cook until aromatic, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker.
• Add bell pepper, beef broth, crushed tomato, caraway seed & brown sugar, if using to the slow cooker. Stir. Add bay leaf, cover and cook low 8 hours or high for 4 to 6 hours.
• Serve with sour cream and a sprinkling of caraway seeds, if desired.

Notes

• Any spices left in the bowl from the beef can/should be added to the slow cooker.
• Vegetables like carrot & potato can be added to the stew & still be authentic.

Nutrition

Serving: 3 /4 cup (generous), Calories: 406 kcal, Carbohydrates: 22 g, Protein: 51.5 g, Fat: 13.5 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 168 mg, Sodium: 657 mg, Fiber: 5.5 g, Sugar: 9 g