One-Pot Texas Goulash Recipe Is a Budget-Friendly High-Protein Dinner (20 Minutes, 8 Ingredients) Budget Recipes High Protein Recipes Beef Pork Turkey Recipes Dinner Pasta One-Pan Recipes

Goulash was a weekly meal at my house growing up. My mom made goulash with rice, not pasta, so I did not discover "real" American goulash until I was cooking as an adult. With so many watching their food budgets closer than ever, goulash is a high-protein budget recipe that can be made quickly and satisfies adults and kids. This Texas goulash recipe uses smoked sausage instead of ground beef, which is another (delicious!) money saver. Plus, check out the health benefits of protein.

This easy family dinner recipe not only has smoked sausage, but flavor-packed diced tomatoes with green chiles, which come in mild, original, hot and even habanero if you like a lot of heat. 

Here is your short shopping list for this one-pot recipe: smoked sausage, onion, garlic, low-sodium chicken broth, a can of tomatoes with green chiles, milk, elbow macaroni, cheddar-jack cheese and optional green onions for serving. This hearty sausage and pasta dinner is on the table in about 20 minutes.

Spoon the cheesy macaroni and sausage into bowls or onto plates and serve with your favorite side dishes. This one-pot recipe could stand on its own as a complete dinner, but we added a fresh garden salad on the side and some fresh broccoli. 

Cuisine: American / Southern
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 12 - 16 ounces smoked sausage (1 package), sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 14 ounces (1 can) low-sodium chicken broth
• 10 ounces (1 can) tomatoes with green chiles (I used Rotel)
• 1/2 cup milk (I used evaporated milk)
• 8 ounces elbow macaroni (or your favorite short pasta)
• 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar-jack cheese
• chopped green onions, for serving (optional)

Here's how to make it: 

1. Cook the sausage and onion in a dutch oven or pot with a lid until sausage is lightly browned and onion is soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
2. Add the chicken broth, undrained tomatoes with green chiles, milk and pasta. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. (For a gluten-free dinner, use gluten-free pasta.)
3. Stir and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat, cover the pot and cook until pasta is tender and most of the liquid has absorbed, about 10 to 12 minutes.
4. Uncover and stir in half of the grated cheese until melted.
5. Turn off the heat. Top with the remaining cheese (do not stir) and cover the pot until the cheese melts.
6. Scoop into bowls and garnish with chopped green onions, if desired. Store any leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the microwave. The pasta also freezes well for quick dinners later.

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