Lunch Lady Texas Goulash

Full of delicious grown-up flavor but reminiscent of school lunch days, this favorite goulash will bring back childhood memories.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Calories: 376 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 cups water
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 1 pound ground beef
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• ¼ cup chopped green bell pepper
• ¾ cup tomato paste
• 1 ½ cups canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (8 ounce) package dry elbow macaroni

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Cook and stir ground beef, bell pepper, and onion in a large pot over medium-high heat until beef is browned and crumbly and vegetables are soft, 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 2

Pour pinto beans into a saucepan and cook over medium heat until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste.

Step 3

Combine 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons water, chili powder, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl; stir into the beef mixture. Add pinto bean mixture. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Step 4

While goulash cooks, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.

Step 5

Mix cooked macaroni into the goulash, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour.