Description
Hungarian slow cooker goulash delivers a hearty symphony of tender beef, paprika-rich sauce, and comforting flavors from Central Europe. This classic dish brings authentic warmth to your kitchen, inviting you to savor a taste of tradition with minimal effort and maximum satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid and Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 ml) beef broth
- 2 cups (500 g) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14 ounces / 400 g) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked or sweet)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
Pasta and Topping:
- 2 cups (200 g) elbow macaroni
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded cheddar cheese (optional for topping)
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sizzle ground beef in a skillet over medium flame, fragmenting into delicate crumbles until rich brown. Discard excess grease to enhance dish’s lean profile.
- Migrate seasoned meat into slow cooker vessel, introducing aromatic onions, minced garlic, robust tomato medley, savory sauce, hearty beef broth, vibrant paprika, herbaceous Italian seasoning, tangy Worcestershire essence, refined salt, and cracked pepper.
- Orchestrate thorough blending, ensuring harmonious ingredient integration throughout the mixture.
- Secure slow cooker lid, allowing culinary magic to unfold on low temperature setting for 6-8 hours or accelerated high setting for 3-4 hours, developing profound flavor depths.
- Approximately 30 minutes prior to completion, introduce uncooked elbow macaroni, gently folding into bubbling mixture to guarantee perfect pasta absorption.
- Evaluate pasta tenderness, confirming ideal al dente consistency within the rich, hearty environment.
- Optional luxurious finale: Sprinkle generous cascade of shredded cheddar, permitting gradual melting into sumptuous landscape.
- Garnish with delicate fresh parsley, presenting vibrant emerald accent atop rustic comfort dish.
- Serve immediately, capturing peak temperature and textural brilliance of this comforting goulash creation.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier version of the classic goulash.
- Experiment with different pasta shapes like rotini or shells for added texture and visual appeal.
- Swap traditional beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, diet-friendly alternative that maintains rich flavor.
- Enhance the dish’s complexity by adding a splash of red wine or a sprinkle of smoked paprika during the initial cooking stage for deeper, more nuanced taste profiles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Hungarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg