Slow-Cooked Beef Goulash

Introduction

Slow-Cooked Beef Goulash is a rich, hearty dish bursting with flavor, thanks to its tender beef chunks and aromatic blend of paprika, onions, and savory spices. This classic recipe is beloved for its depth of flavor and comforting, stew-like consistency—perfect for weeknight dinners, cozy winter meals, or feeding a crowd at your next gathering. Its simplicity and robust taste make it a winning choice you’ll want to add to your regular meal rotation.

Why You’ll Love This Slow-Cooked Goulash

Goulash shines for its bold, smoky-sweet paprika flavors and the melt-in-your-mouth texture achieved by slow-cooking beef until it’s fork-tender. The layering of onions, peppers, tomatoes, and seasoning gives the stew a comforting richness, while the hands-off slow-cooking method frees you up for the rest of the day. Serve it over noodles, potatoes, or with crusty bread for an irresistible, soul-satisfying meal.

Building Flavor in Every Layer

Start by browning your beef to develop deep, savory flavors. Onions and garlic are sautéed until translucent, followed by paprika to infuse the mix with signature warmth. Slow cooking allows the spices and aromatics to meld beautifully, and adding bell peppers and tomatoes brings just the right touch of sweetness and acidity. The result: a complex, full-bodied stew made easy.

Serving Suggestions for Classic Goulash

For a traditional experience, ladle your beef goulash over buttered egg noodles or mashed potatoes, or accompany it with fresh, crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and fresh parsley for added color, creaminess, and freshness.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 6 hearty servings. Each serving contains approximately 350 calories (without added sides) and is a good source of protein, iron, and essential vitamins, making it a nutritious, wholesome main course.

Slow-Cooked Beef Goulash (Recap)

This beef goulash embodies the essence of comfort food—meaty, flavorful, and heartwarming—while the slow-cooking technique ensures the most satisfying, tender bite every time. It’s a simple, crowd-pleasing meal that deserves a place in your meal plan.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and stress-free weekly meal planning.

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef in batches and brown on all sides, then transfer to your slow cooker.
2. In the same skillet, add onions and cook until softened (about 5 minutes). Stir in garlic, both types of paprika, and caraway seeds, cooking for 1 more minute to release their fragrance.
3. Transfer the onion mixture to the slow cooker. Add bell peppers, diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato paste, beef broth, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir to combine evenly.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 3½-4 hours, until the beef is extremely tender and the flavors are fully developed.
5. Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot over your choice of egg noodles, potatoes, rice, or with bread. Garnish with parsley and a spoonful of sour cream if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This slow-cooked beef goulash is an excellent candidate for meal prepping and batch cooking. Save and schedule this recipe in your meal planning app to ensure you have hearty, ready-to-reheat leftovers for busy weeknights.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically calculates total ingredient needs across all your recipes
– Organizes your shopping list by store section to save you time
– Helps prevent forgotten items and duplicate purchases
– Makes prepping weeknight dinners, like this goulash, seamless

Pro tip: If you’re planning more beef or tomato-based meals, schedule your dishes together to consolidate shopping and reduce food waste—CookifyAI helps you optimize every step!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 7–8 hours (LOW) or 3½–4 hours (HIGH)
Total Time: 7½–8½ hours (LOW), includes slow cook time

Enjoy the rich, savory depth of slow-cooked beef goulash—a must-have addition to your meal plan for flavor, comfort, and effortless home-cooked goodness!