School Cafeteria Goulash - a classic dish from your childhood lunchroom. Tender pasta simmered in a rich ground beef and tomato-based sauce that is ready in under 30 minutes! Comfort food at its best! Ground beef, onion, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, beef broth, pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, macaroni noodles, and cheese. Great for a quick weeknight meal or a potluck. Everyone LOVES this pasta!
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook ground beef until no longer pink. Drain fat.
Add onion flakes, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, beef broth, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, paprika and onion powder to the skillet.
Stir in cooked pasta noodles. Simmer over medium heat until heated through, about 5 to 10 minutes.
Top the pasta with shredded cheese, garnish with dried parsley, and serve.
Notes:
Can substitute ground turkey for ground beef.
I use beef broth in this recipe for extra flavor. You can substitute water if you prefer.
What can you add to goulash? Feel free to add your favorite vegetables to the mix. Bell peppers, black beans, olives would be great.
The recipe listed an alternative Italian seasoning blend option. Omit the chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, and onion powder and use the following spices:
1 1/4 tsp dried basil
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried marjoram
1/4 tsp dried thyme
I use mozzarella cheese if using the Italian seasoning blend.
I use dried minced onion flakes. Feel free to substitute 1 cup of fresh chopped onions. Cook the raw onion in the skillet with the ground beef.
Can School Cafeteria Goulash be made in advance? Yes! You can make the dish ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for later. When ready to reheat and serve, heat the sauce on the stove top and add in the pasta. Cook over medium-low heat until warm.
If making this exclusively as a make-ahead meal, I suggest not adding the pasta until you reheat the dish.
If you want to make the pasta in advance, toss it with olive oil so it doesn't stick together.
Can School Cafeteria Goulash be frozen? Yes! Make the dish and let it cool before transferring to sealable freezer bags or an airtight container. It will keep well for 3 months. When ready to eat, Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating on the stovetop.
If this is exclusively a freezer meal, I do suggest waiting to add the pasta until you reheat the dish.