Some suppers earn a permanent place in the rotation simply because they are easy, filling, and made from pantry basics, and this slow cooker poor man’s goulash is one of those dependable meals. It has the spirit of old-fashioned Midwestern home cooking, where a pound of ground beef, pasta, and tomato could stretch to feed everybody at the table, and pouring the tomato juice right over the raw beef lets the slow cooker do most of the work while the whole kitchen takes on that cozy, familiar smell.
This goulash is a supper all by itself, but it is especially good with buttered bread, saltine crackers, or a simple green salad on the side. If you want to round it out a little more, serve it with steamed green beans, canned corn with butter, or a scoop of cottage cheese, and for folks who like a little extra richness, a sprinkle of shredded cheddar on top fits right in.
Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Poor Man’s Goulash
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
4 cups tomato juice
1 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Add the raw ground beef to the slow cooker, breaking it up slightly with a spoon, then scatter the chopped onion over the top and sprinkle in the salt.
2. Pour the tomato juice over the beef and onion, cover, and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, stirring once or twice if convenient, until the beef is fully cooked and the onion is tender.
3. Stir in the uncooked elbow macaroni, making sure the pasta is mostly submerged in the liquid. Cover and cook on high for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the macaroni is tender.
4. Stir well, let the goulash sit for 5 minutes to thicken slightly, then spoon it into bowls and serve hot.
Variations & Tips
Add cheese: If you want a richer bowl, stir in 1 to 2 cups of shredded cheddar right at the end or sprinkle it over each serving. It melts into the hot goulash and gives it that extra comfort-food touch so many families love.
Pasta timing: Keep a close eye once the macaroni goes in, because slow cookers can vary quite a bit. If it cooks too long, the pasta can become overly soft, so start checking early and stir once to keep it from clumping.
Season it up: This plain version is meant to be simple and thrifty, but a little black pepper, garlic powder, or Italian seasoning can be added if you have them on hand. Those pantry extras can deepen the flavor without changing the character of the dish.
Make it stretch: For a larger family meal, add an extra cup of tomato juice and another handful of macaroni, then adjust the cooking time as needed. That old frugal trick makes this recipe go a little farther, just like suppers used to in so many country kitchens.