American Goulash was a childhood staple in my household, so I had to make a healthier version of the comfort food. This Healthy Goulash Pasta is made with chicken instead of beef, plenty of veggies, and chickpea pasta.
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a childhood comfort food made healthy
If you grew up in the Midwest in the 2000s, chances are your grandparents served you American Goulash. It’s a delicious beefy pasta with tomatoes, onion, and cheese—and it's a true comfort food, especially on days when the snow just keeps coming down!
I was inspired to make a healthier version of the pasta dish that incorporates ground chicken and chickpea pasta. You can, of course, still use beef or regular pasta, and it will still taste amazing. I also topped it with some fresh mozzarella cheese for even more deliciousness!
This Healthy Goulash Pasta is a recipe your family will love and keep coming back to. It's also very suitable for meal prep, so you can make a big batch and enjoy for lunch or dinner all week long!
Grab these ingredients to make this Healthy Goulash Pasta
Pasta: I used a box of Banza Cascatelli chickpea pasta for some added protein and fiber. However, feel free to use whatever you'd like. Elbows or bowties would be so fun!
Olive Oil: This will make our pan nice and greased so our chicken and other ingredients don't stick and burn. Olive oil is also a healthy source of fat and adds subtle but delicious flavor.
Ground Chicken: I used 92% lean ground chicken.
Worcestershire Sauce: This is going to add some umami flavor. It's subtle but so tasty!
Onion: I recommend using a white onion if you're going to cook it down, which we will be doing. This will add some sweetness to the dish whereas a red onion would add more bitterness.
Tomatoes: I used cherry tomatoes.
Pasta Sauce: I used a jar of vodka sauce, but you can use whatever you prefer.
Mozzarella: Shredded mozzarella is easy to sprinkle. You can buy it pre-shredded or shred some fresh mozzarella.
Tools you'll need
To make this Goulash Pasta, grab a Dutch oven or large pot, cutting board, knife, strainer, measuring cups & spoons, a rubber spatula, and a meat masher.
How to make this Healthy Goulash Pasta
- Fill a Dutch oven or large pot with 6-8 cups of water. Bring it to a boil on the stove.
- Prepare your pasta according to the box instructions. Strain once cooked to your liking. Leave the noodles in the strainer for the time being.
- Place the Dutch oven or large pot back on the stove and heat to medium heat. Add the olive oil or cooking spray and place ground chicken in the dish. Then, add in Worcestershire sauce and diced white onion. Give everything a stir to get the cooking going. You can use a meat masher to break up the chicken as it cooks.
- Next, dice your cherry tomatoes and add them into the pot.
- Then, pour in pasta sauce and stir. Add the noodles back into the pot and stir so they’re all covered. Lower the heat and place the lid on top of the pot.
- Allow the pasta to simmer for 30-40 minutes on low heat.
- Add the shredded mozzarella 5 minutes prior to serving. We want it to melt into the pasta mixture and be super delicious.
- Enjoy!
You can also watch the Healthy Goulash Pasta Web Story here!
Frequently asked questions about Healthy Goulash Pasta
How should I store this dish?
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, microwave in 30-60 second intervals until sufficiently heated.
Anything I should watch out for?
Make sure that after adding the pasta back to the pot that the burner is turned to low. You want the aromatic flavors to pick up on each other, but you do not want the pasta to dry out or burn! Also, we want the ground chicken to have some fat content. It will take this dish from just okay to freaking phenomenal. Do not use 99% lean in this recipe! Head to my Spinach Feta Turkey Burgers or Healthy One Pot Pasta if you’re looking for something leaner.
Is this meal suitable for meal prep?
Yes! You can freeze this meal to have in a pinch in the future or prepare it for meal prep. I've had it the past 4 days in a row, so I absolutely recommend!
I don't like ground chicken. What other meats do you suggest?
I think ground beef or turkey would be a wonderful substitute. To make these vegetarian, you could use chickpeas or Impossible meat as well.
Can I used canned tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes?
You can, but you'll use some freshness from the fresh cherry tomatoes. Fresh is always best if you can use it!
Where does Goulash come from?
Goulash is a traditional dish from Hungary and is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables. It's seasoned with paprika, which gives it a beautiful red color, and other spices. This pasta dish is actually a version of American Goulash, which incorporates pasta. It's sometimes called slumgullion and is similar to American chop suey. It's a delicious comfort food!
More delicious pasta recipes to try
Healthier Goulash Pasta Recipe
Equipment
- Dutch oven or large pot
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- strainer
- measuring cups / spoons
- Rubber Spatula
- Meat masher
Ingredients
- 8 oz chickpea pasta
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb ground chicken, 92% lean**
- 2 tsp worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup diced white onion
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 25 oz jar vodka pasta sauce, or sauce of choice
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Fill a Dutch oven or large pot with 6-8 cups of water. Bring it to a boil on the stove.
- Prepare your pasta according to the box instructions. Strain once cooked to your liking. Leave the noodles in the strainer for the time being.
- Place the Dutch oven or large pot back on the stove and heat to medium heat. Add the olive oil or cooking spray and place ground chicken in the dish. Then, add in Worcestershire sauce and diced white onion. Give everything a stir to get the cooking going. You can use a meat masher to break up the chicken as it cooks.
- Next, dice your cherry tomatoes and add them into the pot.
- Then, pour in pasta sauce and stir. Add the noodles back into the pot and stir so they’re all covered. Lower the heat and place the lid on top of the pot.
- Allow the pasta to simmer for 30-40 minutes on low heat.
- Add the shredded mozzarella 5 minutes prior to serving. We want it to melt into the pasta mixture and be super delicious.
- Enjoy!
Notes
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It's my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved, something that you think it might need, or just say hi!
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find Healthier Goulash Pasta calories and nutrition.
1 serving: 39 grams Carbs | 28 grams Fat | 38 grams Protein
**Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
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I made this for my family and they loved it! Didn’t think goulash would taste that good with chicken but it did! So yummy!!