Mac & Cheese Goulash
Mac and cheese goulash is an easy update to the hearty stew. With only a handful of ingredients and super short prep, you’ll be enjoying this family friendly comfort food in no time at all!
One of my goals each dinner time is to get a meal on that table that everyone will happily eat.
Sure, that’s a lot of people’s dinner time goals.
But I take it further.
My other goal is to do it as easily as possible.
This mac and cheese goulash is so easy and everyone loves it.
What is goulash?
Goulash is a thick soup or stew from eastern Europe.
It normally features meat, a tomato base, peppers, and potatoes or noodles.
My version uses ground beef and mac and cheese for something that is in between a stew and homemade Hamburger Helper.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Ground beef– I recommend using lean ground beef for this otherwise the result will be too greasy.
- Mac and cheese– Use the big box of Velveeta shells and cheese.
- Poblano pepper– Dice it.
- Spices– Onion flakes and garlic powder.
- Spaghetti sauce– Use the chunky style to give it that hearty stew feel.
How to Make
This is super easy to make.
To do it, cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the package.
While it’s cooking, brown the beef in a large skillet, crumbling it as it cooks.
Once it’s cooked, drain the grease.
Then, stir in the diced pepper and the onion flakes.
Cook the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes until the peppers begin to soften. Set it aside.
Then drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
Stir in the cheese sauce until it’s evenly combined.
Then, stir in the meat mixture and the spaghetti sauce until the mixture is smooth.
Serve and enjoy!
Can I make this ahead of time?
I wouldn’t make this in advance because the noodles will absorb some of the sauce and it may thicken too much.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
If you find it has thickened too much, stir in a little beef broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
Tips and Tricks
- We like to use Classico brand sauce for this recipe- tastes great and the perfect ratio of tomato chunks to sauce
- Don’t have a poblano pepper? You can use a small green pepper instead, but make sure to discard the seeds when prepping. They bring the heat.
- You can halve or double this recipe depending on how many you’re feeding.
Other Easy Ways to Turn Mac and Cheese into a Meal
Mac and cheese goulash is one of our go to easy dinners. Make it today and enjoy!
Looking for other easy ways to turn a box of mac and cheese into a meal? Try these:
If you’ve tried this MAC AND CHEESE GOULASH, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Mac & Cheese Goulash (From A Box)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 box velveeta shells and cheese Value Sized box
- 1 small poblano pepper diced
- 1 tsp minced onion flakes
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 cups chunky style spaghetti sauce
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. While it's cooking, prepare the beef.
- Cook the ground beef, breaking up to crumble as it cooks. Drain off excess grease.
- Add the diced pepper and onion to the skillet, stirring in to evenly combine. Let the mixture cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring ocassionally, just until the peppers have begun to soften. Set aside.
- Drain the pasta, and then add it back to the pot.
- Add the cheese sauce packet from the box to the hot pasta. Stir until evenly combined.
- Add the meat mixture and the sauce to the pot, stirring in until the mixture's smooth & creamy.
- Spoon into bowls and serve warm.
Nutrition
