Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (2024)

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By Sarah Rossi

on Jan 09, 2024, Updated Mar 08, 2024

5 from 36 votes

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This rich, hearty Hungarian-style stew has a heaps of warming flavours but is ridiculously easy to make. Simply prep ahead of time by throwing everything in the slow cooker, then a deliciously satisfying Beef Goulash is ready a few hours later.

Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (2)

You can’t beat a throw-it-all-in slow cooker recipe for those days when we need a hearty and nutritious meal but have little energy or time available.

Here is another beauty of a dump (dump it all in, get it?!) recipe my friends!

With chunks of beef and only a few other simple ingredients, we have a new take on a traditional beef stew or casserole.

This Slow Cooker Beef Goulash is perfect for the whole family, with plenty of flavour and a dense tomatoey sauce.

Why you’ll love this Beef Goulash recipe

⭐️ Super low effort – throw it all in (to the oven or slow cooker)

⭐️ A hearty warming dinner

⭐️ Perfect for batch cooking and freezing

Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (3)

How we came up with this recipe

I wanted to make a new type of low cost slow cooker recipe with beef that involved plenty of flavour but not a lot of faffing.

Even better, if it could be turned easily into a ‘dump’ recipe – AKA dump it all in a bag and freeze ready for cooking later.

I have simplified this traditional Hungarian dish to fit in with what works for an easy midweek family meal.

Usually Goulash is made with meat, paprika and caraway seeds (like this traditional Hungarian Goulash recipe here), I have left out the caraway seeds here as we felt most people probably wouldn’t have this in their cupboards.

However, if you DO have them, add a teaspoon to the slow cooker and it will be delicious.

You could always make this in the oven instead of the slow cooker if you prefer – the method for this is below.

Our Beef Goulash Ingredients

Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (4)
  • Diced beef – Usually called casserole beef or stewing steak in the supermarkets. No browning necessary. Any kind of beef suitable for slow cooking will work here.
  • Onion and Garlic – Frozen or fresh is fine
  • Beef stock cubes – No need to dilute these! Just add them dry as they are.
  • Paprika AND Sweet smoked paprika – Using both gives us a little spice and also that smokey flavour that adds depth.
  • Red peppers – See notes below about adding these

How to make Beef Goulash

Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (5)

1. Put all of the slow cook ingredients into the slow cooker and cook as per the recipe below.

Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (6)

2. Add the peppers and cook as per the recipe below.

Leftovers

In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat fully in the microwave or on the hob before serving.

In the freezer This recipe freezes well when cooked. Just wait until it’s totally cold and then put it into a freezer proof container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly before reheating in the microwave or hob.

Top tips

When to add the peppers

I like to add my peppers near the end of the cooking time in the slow cooker as I’m not a fan of them being overcooked.

If you prefer them cooked more, feel free to add them at the start of the cooking time. Also, you can cook them briefly in the microwave, add them to the finished stew and eat immediately if you prefer.

How to cook this Beef Goulash in the oven

Put all of the ingredients into a lidded ovenproof pan and cook at 160C between 1.5-2.5 hours, depending on how hot your oven is.

After one hour, add a splash of water if the dish is looking dry.

Toppings

Some sour cream and fresh chopped parsley finish off this dish nicely.

What to serve with Slow Cooker Beef Goulash

You could go for couscous, mashed potato, rice, cooked orzo or crusty bread.

FAQs

Could you recommend a slow cooker for this?

The Morphy Richards Sear & Stew Slow Cooker is my all-time favourite and works really well for this recipe and it’s really light.

I have written a whole post reviewing slow cookers, so have a read of this here. You might discover what works best for you in that!

I’d like to use a slow cooker but don’t have a lot of time in the mornings. What can I do?

Convenience is key, but then again, even slow cookers have to be filled and switched on!

You could always get the ingredients ready the evening before, put everything in the slow cooker pan and store in the fridge overnight.

In the morning, simply place in the slow cooker frame and switch on, or use this WiFi plug to switch on later in the day remotely!

Do you have any other easy slow cooker beef recipes?

I sure do! Try my Slow Cooker Beef Joint, my Slow Cooker Beef Curry or my Chinese-Style Beef and Broccoli or you can find all of my Slow Cooker Beef recipes here.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (7)

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5 from 36 votes

Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe}

Simple to prep ahead of time, this Beef Goulash is rich, hearty and comforting – perfect for an easy midweek meal for the whole family.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

To slow cook:

  • 700 g Diced beef
  • 1 Onion, Peeled and chopped
  • 4 Cloves Garlic, Peeled and crushed
  • 400 g Tinned tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp Tomato puree
  • 2 Beef stock cubes, No need to dilute
  • 1 tbsp Paprika
  • 2 tbsp Sweet smoked paprika
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

To finish:

  • 2 Red peppers, Deseeded and thinly sliced

Instructions

To Slow Cook:

  • Put all of the slow cook ingredients into the slow cooker and cook for 4-5 hours on HIGH or 6-8 hours on LOW.

  • Add the peppers and cook for a further 45-60 minutes on HIGH.

To Oven Cook:

  • Put all of the ingredients into a lidded ovenproof pan and cook at 160C between 1.5-2.5 hours, depending on the size of your beef cubes. After one hour, stir and check. Add a splash of water if the sauce is looking dry.

Notes

Beef: Usually called casserole beef or stewing steak in the supermarkets. No browning necessary

Caraway seeds: If you have some in, add a teaspoon into the slow cooker with the other ingredients

Adding the peppers: I like to add my peppers near the end of the cooking time in the slow cooker as I’m not a fan of them being overcooked. You can put them in at the start though if you prefer them more cooked. Also, you can cook them briefly in the microwave, add them to the finished stew and eat immediately if you prefer

Toppings: Some sour cream and fresh chopped parsley finish off this dish nicely

Serving suggestions: You could go for mashed potato, rice, cooked orzo or crusty bread

Nutrition

Calories: 324kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 41gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 737mgPotassium: 1239mgFiber: 6gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 4705IUVitamin C: 89mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Family Food

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Categorized as:
Beef, Collections, Diced Beef Recipes, Main Courses, Recipes, Slow Cooker, Slow Cooker Beef, Winter Warmers

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5 Comments

  1. Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (14)
    Made this tonight with mashed potatoes as a side and it was incredible. It was simple to make and went down a treat – very popular with my wife too! Thank you.

    Reply

  2. Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (15)
    This was a winner – absolutely delish. Everyone had a clean plate – served with lots of green veg, mashed potato and crusty bread. Thank you for recipe. The meat was melt in the mouth soft and loved the crunch of the peppers as a varied texture. Highly recommend this one for a cold winter evening.

    Reply

  3. Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (16)
    Made this on Monday – very tasty & minimum effort. Will be trying more of your recipes!

    Reply

  4. Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (17)
    Made this on the weekend – absolutely delicious. Great to have an alternative to beef stew and it’s so easy.

    Reply

  5. Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (18)
    So easy and quick and really delicious.

    Reply

Beef Goulash {Slow Cooker or Oven Recipe} (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between beef stew and beef goulash? ›

Hungarian goulash is very similar to beef stew, but there are some differences. While a typical stew consists of slow braising chunks of meat with root vegetables in a seasoned broth, goulash uses spices such as caraway, cumin, paprika, and peppers which really enhance and alter the flavor from a classic beef stew.

Is it better to cook stew on low or high in slow cooker? ›

While many slow cooker recipes can be made on high for 3-4 hours, I highly recommend cooking this beef stew on low for the full 7-8 hours. This will ensure that the beef gets nice and tender. Thicken your stew properly.

What are the two types of goulash? ›

There are two kinds of goulash: Hungarian goulash, which calls for the slow-simmered beef to be served alongside egg noodles, and American goulash, which pulls in ground beef and cooks the noodles in the pot alongside the sauce.

How do you make goulash meat softer? ›

8 simple tips to make meat softer
  1. Utilize the meat tenderizer. A quick and easy method is the use of the meat tenderizer. ...
  2. Cover the meat with coarse salt. ...
  3. Acid marinade. ...
  4. Marinade with fruit puree. ...
  5. Slow cooking in a pan. ...
  6. Grilling. ...
  7. Add the coarse salt halfway through cooking. ...
  8. Use baking soda.

What is traditional goulash made of? ›

It is made with simple ingredients like meat, peppers and root vegetables elevated to perfection by the use of Hungary's most famous spice: paprika. Goulash can be made with beef or pork but the traditional way of making it is with beef.

What is the difference between Hungarian goulash and American Goulash? ›

Hungarian Goulash is a thick meat and vegetable stew with a broth that's heavily seasoned with paprika, while American Goulash is a quick dish made from ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It also goes by the name of American Chop Suey.

Is beef stew better in oven or stove? ›

Cooking a stew in an oven generally results in slower, more even cooking, while cooking on a stove is faster and may require more frequent stirring. Oven cooking can lead to tender, flavorful dishes, while stove cooking is quicker but may require more attention to prevent burning or sticking.

Is it better to slow cook on the stove or oven? ›

Meat, especially large cuts, benefits the most from oven slow cooking. Because moisture loss is minimal, it can help to brown the meat first, either on the stove top or in a hot oven that you then significantly drop for the rest of the cook time.

Why put beef stew in oven? ›

Hands-off cooking: One, you don't have to monitor the heat of the stovetop for hours, stirring and covering for the 2 1/2 to 3 hours most stews require. More even cooking: Second, oven-baked stews heat from all sides rather than just from the bottom, which results in faster, more even cooking.

What is goulash called in the South? ›

American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, American Chop Suey, or even Beef-a-Roni, is an American comfort-food dish popular in the Midwest and South.

What is the difference between beef stroganoff and beef goulash? ›

Goulash is a stew, and stroganoff is a sauce

It's also usually cooked in a slow cooker as it's made with a cheaper cut of meat that needs time to become tender.

What country is famous for beef goulash? ›

Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.

How do you thicken beef goulash? ›

Simply knead equal parts softened butter and flour together in a bowl with your fingers until well-combined (beurre manié literally means “kneaded butter”) and then roll into small bits. Add the bits gradually to your stew, whisking until it noticeably thickens.

How do you cook beef so it's tender? ›

Cooking these cuts of meat slowly, either by braising, stewing or grill roasting, is the best way to get these tasty cuts of meat meltingly tender. Cuts like this come from active muscles in the animal such as the shoulder or the chest area, which get more of a workout (making them quite tough).

What spice makes meat soft? ›

Ginger is a common ingredient in marinades thanks to its uniquely spicy flavour and the fact that it contains a 'proteolytic' enzyme that naturally breaks down meat protein. Method: Add slices of ginger or ginger pulp to the surface of the beef and leave for a minimum of 2 hours.

What is the difference between a goulash and stew? ›

Though one noticeable thing about traditional Goulash is that the broth is thinner than what you think of with stews, and it's not thickened with flour or cream. Also, it's not typically served over mash like stews, it's served in bowls like soup.

Is goulash considered a stew? ›

Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás) is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe.

Does goulash mean stew? ›

: a stew made with meat (such as beef), assorted vegetables, and paprika.

What is another name for beef stew meat? ›

Chuck is one of the leaner types of beef, making it perfect for stews because it melts into delicious pieces as it cooks. A chuck roast has a large amount of connective tissue, which allows it to retain its moisture during the cooking process.

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