Veena Azmanov

Cake Artist and Food Enthusiast

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Best Slow Cooker Beef Goulash Recipe

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Best Slow Cooker Beef Goulash Recipe

This slow cooked beef goulash is a simple, easy and effortless recipe that produces fork tender, melt in the mouth meat that’s richly flavored with garlic, cloves and caraway before slow cooking for hours. Traditionally served with noodles but goes equally well with mashed potatoes or steamed rice.

This slow cooked beef goulash is a simple, easy and effortless recipe that produces fork tender, melt in the mouth meat that's richly flavored with garlic, cloves and caraway before slow cooking for hours. Traditionally served with noodles but goes equally well with mashed potatoes or steamed rice. 

The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Goulash

A beef goulash is originally an Hungarian beef and vegetable stew slow cooked by herds men aka Hungarian Shepherds. The word goulash is derived from the Hungarian word guliyas which means herdsmen. Over year the dish has come to be known as Gulash meat.

Slow cooking was very common back in the olden days when workers who worked hours outside the house either in the fields or with their cattle had not time to come back and cook. Before they left home they’d put  food on a safe fire to slow cook for hours so when they got back they would have something to eat.

Personally, I love slow cooked meats over anything roast or fried. Meat falling off the bones, soaking up all those exotic spices and juices. How can you not like such melt in the mouth meat?

While the original dish is a stew with meat and veggies, today I have skipped the veggies and made a thick Beef Goulash with only melt in the mouth meat.  This is how I like my goulash.. thick sauce with loaded with meat flavors. Don’t get me wrong you can add veggies too!

This slow cooked beef goulash is a simple, easy and effortless recipe that produces fork tender, melt in the mouth meat that's richly flavored with garlic, cloves and caraway before slow cooking for hours. Traditionally served with noodles but goes equally well with mashed potatoes or steamed rice. 

Slow cooker Hungarian Beef Gulash Recipe, Best Beef Goulash Recipe EVER

Video – Slow Cooker Beef Goulash Recipe

Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)

  • Beef – I like to use lamb shoulder meat that works great for slow cooking but if you ask the butcher he will give you a good meat that does really well for slow cooking and it is not necessarily expensive.
  • Flour – This helps not just sear the meat but also as a sauce thicker. BUT if you want to keep it gluten free? Just substitute the flour with cornstarch. It will help sear the meat as well as thicken the sauce.
  • Spices – today I am using cloves, caraway seeds and rosemary as my main flavors but if you prefer you can omit any of these. I love the depth of flavor the beef gets from the cloves and caraway seeds.
  • Balsamic Vinegar – This isn’t just any vinegar! It’s gives a very special flavor and color to the beef goulash that matures even more with slow cooking. While I do think you should stick to balsamic vinegar, if you must substitute I’d rather you use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon.
  • Stock – Beef is full of flavor so adding stock only adds more depth of flavor. You can use any stock chicken, beef or vegetables. If you want you can even add water instead of stock.
This slow cooked beef goulash is a simple, easy and effortless recipe that produces fork tender, melt in the mouth meat that's richly flavored with garlic, cloves and caraway before slow cooking for hours. Traditionally served with noodles but goes equally well with mashed potatoes or steamed rice. 

Slow cooker Hungarian Beef Goulash Recipe, Best Beef Goulash Recipe EVER

Don’t have a slow cooker?

Of course you can make this Beef Goulash even if you don’t have a slow cooker!! I did it for years before I got mine. All you do is use a heavy bottom casserole pan or Dutch oven instead of a saute pan and follow the same process

  • Season the beef pieces with salt, pepper and flour
  • In a heavy bottom pan (or dutch oven) sear the meat on all side with the oil on high heat. Remove and set aside.
  • In the same pan saute the onions and garlic.
  • Add all the rest of the ingredients followed by the beef.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Let the whole thing come to a boil.
  • Then lower the heat to a slow simmer.
  • Continue to simmer covered on low for 2 hours until the meat is fork tender.
  • Enjoy!
This slow cooked beef goulash is a simple, easy and effortless recipe that produces fork tender, melt in the mouth meat that's richly flavored with garlic, cloves and caraway before slow cooking for hours. Traditionally served with noodles but goes equally well with mashed potatoes or steamed rice. 

Slow cooker Hungarian Beef Gulash Recipe, Best Beef Goulash Recipe EVER

Recipe – Slow Cooker Beef Goulash Recipe (Save/Pin)

Tools

Ingredients

  • Beef – 1 kg (2 lbs)
  • Flour – 2 tbsp
  • Cooking oil – 3 tbsp
  • Onion – 1/2 cup chopped (1 medium)
  • Garlic – 3 cloves sliced
  • Worcestershire sauce – 2 tbsp
  • Balsamic vinegar – 3 tbsp
  • Tomato paste – 2 tbsp
  • Stock – 1 cup
  • Water – 1 cup
  • Bay leaves – 2 medium

Spices

  • Cloves powder – 1/8 tsp (or two cloves)
  • Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp  (or 10 corns)
  • Caraway seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Dried rosemary – 1/2 tsp
  • Dried thyme – 1/4 tsp

Method

Prepare

  • Cut beef into large bit size pieces.
  • Season with salt and pepper
  • Then add flour and toss well to coat.
  • Chop onions fairly small
  • Mince garlic fine
  • If using whole spices crush them with a mortar and pestle  – set aside.

Pan Saute’

  • Heat 2 tbsp oil to a saute pan
  • Sear the floured beef pieces on all side. – Lay them in a single layer, turning only when needed letting them get a bit of colors.
  • Remove seared beef  from pan – keep warm.
  • In the same saute pan add the remaining oil and saute onions and garlic.
  • Cook for 2 minutes – remove and set aside
  • De glaze the pan with the water removing any caramelized onions and beef residue
  • Add, sugar, tomato paste, worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar – cook another minute
  • Remove from heat.

Set slow cooker

  • Into the slow cooker – Add meat
  • Followed by onion and garlic mixture.
  • Ground spices
  • De-glazed pan mixture
  • Stock
  • Bay leaves
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Use a spatula to ensure the meat is well tucked into the liquid

Slow Cook

  • Set the slow cooker on low for 8 hours OR
  • Set the slow cooker on high for 4 hours.
  • I prefer to set it on high for 2 hours then on low for 4 hours.
  • Beef goulash is traditionally served with Noodles but I love to have it with mashed potatoes or even steamed rice..
  • Enjoy!

Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.

This slow cooked beef goulash is a simple, easy and effortless recipe that produces fork tender, melt in the mouth meat that's richly flavored with garlic, cloves and caraway before slow cooking for hours. Traditionally served with noodles but goes equally well with mashed potatoes or steamed rice. 

The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Goulash

This slow cooked beef goulash is a simple, easy and effortless recipe that produces fork tender, melt in the mouth meat that's richly flavored with garlic, cloves and caraway before slow cooking for hours. Traditionally served with noodles but goes equally well with mashed potatoes or steamed rice. 

The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Goulash Recipe

This slow cooked beef goulash is a simple, easy and effortless recipe that produces fork tender, melt in the mouth meat that's richly flavored with garlic, cloves and caraway before slow cooking for hours. Traditionally served with noodles but goes equally well with mashed potatoes or steamed rice. 
 
5 from 23 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Hungarian
Adjust Servings Here: 8 servings
Calories: 180kcal
Author: Veena Azmanov
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 6 hrs
Total Time: 6 hrs 10 mins

Ingredients

  • 1 kg Beef
  • 2 tbsp Flour
  • 3 tbsp Cooking oil
  • 1/2 cup Onion chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic sliced
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Tomato paste
  • 1 cup Stock
  • 1 cup Water
  • 2 Bay leaves

Spices

  • 1/8 tsp Cloves powder or two cloves
  • 1/2 tsp Pepper powder or 10 corns
  • 1/2 tsp Caraway seeds
  • 1/2 tsp Dried rosemary
  • 1/4 tsp Dried thyme
Metric - US customary

Instructions

Prepare

  • Cut beef into large bit size pieces.
  • Season with salt and pepper
  • Then add flour and toss well to coat.
  • Chop onions fairly small
  • Mince garlic fine
  • If using whole spices crush them with a mortar and pestle  - set aside.

Pan Saute'

  • Heat 2 tbsp oil to a saute pan
  • Sear the floured beef pieces on all side. - Lay them in a single layer, turning only when needed letting them get a bit of colors.
  • Remove seared beef  from pan - keep warm.
  • In the same saute pan add the remaining oil and saute onions and garlic.
  • Cook for 2 minutes - remove and set aside
  • De glaze the pan with the water removing any caramelized onions and beef residue
  • Add, sugar, tomato paste, worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar - cook another minute
  • Remove from heat.

Set slow cooker

  • Into the slow cooker - Add meat
  • Followed by onion and garlic mixture.
  • Ground spices
  • De-glazed pan mixture
  • Stock
  • Bay leaves
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Use a spatula to ensure the meat is well tucked into the liquid

Slow Cook

  • Set the slow cooker on low for 8 hours OR
  • Set the slow cooker on high for 4 hours.
  • I prefer to set it on high for 2 hours then on low for 4 hours.
  • Beef goulash is traditionally served with Noodles but I love to have it with mashed potatoes or even steamed rice..
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 161g | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.9g | Protein: 20.2g | Fat: 9.42g | Saturated Fat: 2.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 149mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1.4g | Vitamin A: 0% | Vitamin C: 0% | Calcium: 0% | Iron: 0%
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Tried this recipe?Mention @veenaazmanov or tag #veenaazmanov!

 Love Slow Cooking? Me too!

You can find more of my slow cooked recipes here weather you have a slow cooker or not.
Alternatively you can see my Recipe Index for all available recipes on this blog.

Slow cooked recipes made on the stove top or Slow cooker can be a time save and a comfort food to have on busy days. A collection of slow cooker aka crock pot recipes from simple easy chicken to exotic Indian curries as well as Hungarian Beef Goulash and French Bourgeoisie aka Beef Burgundy made easy

A Collection of Slow Cooker Recipe – Easy Crock Pot Recipes

 

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Comments

    • Thank you, Taylah. So happy that this recipe worked well for you and you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for coming back to write this feedback. Love to hear from those who tried my recipe.

      Reply

  2. You are such a talented lady. I follow your cake stuff now I’m a fan of your foodstuff. I make this often and this is now our family favorite.

    Reply

    • Thank you, Grady. Thanks for the kind words. So happy that this recipe worked well for you and you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for coming back to write this feedback. Love to hear from those who tried my recipe.

      Reply

  3. I love goulash! I grew up eating it and there is something just so comforting about it! Love your recipe – Can’t wait to try this

    Reply

  4. I love all the gadgets ..which makes our life so easy!! This Recipe looks so delicious and inviting.. can’t wait to my it in my instant pot 😉

    Reply

  6. This goulash looks delicious, I always think people in olden time makes delicious and easy dishes without much work to put on. I like your version of Beef goulash without veggies. You are right, crockpot make meat dishes perfect and juicy.

    Reply

  7. Now this is exactly what I call a perfect Family Comfort Meal. The flavors sound amazing and all that slow cooking is going to magically transfer it into this juciy-flaky delicious meal.

    Reply

  9. When I think of beef I think of Sunday meals. That was always a special meal. Your goulash looks incredibly tender — I think I would put it on polenta. Of course I put just about everything on polenta. 🙂 This is a classic meal that will never go out of style.

    Reply

  13. This looks SO amazing! There’s nothing better than thick chunks of meat in a nice, thick stew sauce. I’m pinning and making this one for sure

    Reply

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