Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese
Craving comforting, hearty food? Try this Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it from drying out. The result is a cozy, better-than-takeout meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Flourless Lemon Greek Yogurt Cake Recipe and Easy Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pockets Recipe.
Why This Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese Is Pure Comfort
- It's a one-pot meal that's easy to clean up.
- The slow cooker does all the work for you.
- It's budget-friendly and feeds a crowd.
- The cheesy topping makes it extra indulgent.
What You'll Need for Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Paprika
- Dried oregano
- Worcestershire sauce
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: Crusty bread
📝 Ingredient Notes
- ground beef: You can use ground turkey or chicken as a substitute.
- bell pepper: Any color will work.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Ensures even cooking and tender results. → See on Amazon
- Meat Thermometer — Prevents overcooking and ensures food safety. → See on Amazon
How to Make Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese
- Step 1: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion, bell pepper, and garlic until the beef is no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- Step 2: Transfer the beef mixture to your slow cooker. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 4: Stir in the shredded cheese until melted. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, topped with fresh parsley and crusty bread if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese
- Pro Tip: For a thicker goulash, you can mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and stir it in before serving.
- Common mistake and fix: If your goulash is too thin, you can cook it on high for a bit longer to reduce the liquid. If it's too thick, add a bit more beef broth.
- Pro Tip: You can make this goulash ahead of time and reheat it in the slow cooker before serving.
Storing & Reheating Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the beef mixture and add it to the slow cooker the night before. In the morning, add the remaining ingredients and set the slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours.
Freezing Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese
Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: To prevent the goulash from drying out, avoid overcooking it and add more beef broth if needed.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Make-ahead: This recipe is perfect for meal prepping. Make it ahead and reheat individual portions as needed.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your goulash is too thin, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry or cook it on high to reduce the liquid.
Want to level up this recipe?
Cast Iron Skillet — Perfect for browning the beef and can be used to cook the entire dish on the stove if preferred. → Check price on Amazon
Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings
- Salt and pepper
- Paprika
- Dried oregano
- Worcestershire sauce
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Crusty bread
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion, bell pepper, and garlic until the beef is no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- Step 2: Transfer the beef mixture to your slow cooker. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 4: Stir in the shredded cheese until melted. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, topped with fresh parsley and crusty bread if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: To prevent the goulash from drying out, avoid overcooking it and add more beef broth if needed.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Make-ahead: This recipe is perfect for meal prepping. Make it ahead and reheat individual portions as needed.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your goulash is too thin, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry or cook it on high to reduce the liquid.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the beef mixture and add it to the slow cooker the night before. In the morning, add the remaining ingredients and set the slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 420
- Protein: 32g
- Fat: 28g
- Carbs: 17g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Cholesterol: 110mg
- Sat. Fat: 14g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the beef mixture and add it to the slow cooker the night before. In the morning, add the remaining ingredients and set the slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours.
Overcooking can cause the goulash to dry out. To prevent this, avoid overcooking and add more beef broth if needed.
Yes, you can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
You can thicken the goulash with a cornstarch slurry or by cooking it on high to reduce the liquid.
This goulash pairs well with crusty bread, a side salad, or steamed vegetables.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash with Cheddar Cheese and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
