Mexican Goulash – A Taco Pasta Skillet

Mexican Goulash is a fun spin on our favorite American Goulash recipe made with macaroni, ground pork sausage, sour cream, and tomatoes. This Taco Pasta Skillet recipe is perfect for the whole family on a busy night.

What is Mexican goulash?

Mexican Goulash is a spin on the Americanized goulash with a saucy meat and elbow macaroni dinner. The flavors are Mexican inspired with tomatoes, onions green peppers, and sour cream.

I love a quick, skillet meal because I’m almost always pressed for time in the evenings. The kids are hangry – you know hungry and angry, and most nights, we have some type of sport practice or club meeting that we need to be at.

Skillet meals are the perfect solution since you only have one big pan to clean afterwards. Plus, skillet meals tend to be quick and simple to make. This Creamy Taco Pasta Skillet recipe is no exception, and you can have it on the table in 30 minutes.

Creamy Taco Pasta Skillet Ingredients

This skillet meal has just a handful of ingredients. It’s essentially a goulash recipe with a Mexican spin, and my family loves any type of saucy goulash recipe. The taco part of this goulash recipe comes from the combination of onions, green peppers and tomatoes, while sour cream makes this one pan taco pasta creamy and saucy.

• Ground Pork Sausage
• Onion, diced
• Green Bell Pepper, diced
• Tomatoes, diced
• Sour Cream
• Elbow Macaroni
• Water
• Sugar
• Chili Powder

While this recipe is popular today, it’s actually been around for a long time.  Back in the day, they called it a Mexican Luncheon Recipe. I found the original recipe in my 100 Years of Good Cooking – Minnesota Centennial Cook Book. Apparently, moms have been making quick dinners like this Mexican Luncheon for a long time, and their families have been enjoying hearty homemade meals.

How to Make Mexican Goulash with Macaroni

Step by Step Instructions

1. In a large skillet, brown ground pork sausage, diced onion and green pepper over medium-high heat.
2. Once browned, add diced tomatoes, sour cream, sugar, chili powder and water to the beef mixture.
3. Cover and simmer over low for approximately 20 minutes or until macaroni is cooked through, stirring occasionally.

For the full ingredient amounts and recipe steps for Mexican goulash with macaroni, scroll the recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

Recipe Variations for Taco Skillet Pasta

• Use a taco seasoning packet instead of chili powder.
• Add a can of drained corn.
• Replace diced tomatoes with prepared mild or medium salsa or small can of tomato sauce.
• Substitute paprika for chili powder or ground cumin.
• Add a can of black beans or kidney beans.
• Stir in a can of diced green chiles.
• Garnish with avocado, guacamole, black olives, sliced jalapenos, shredded cheddar cheese etc.

What can I make with ground sausage other than biscuits and gravy?

While there’s nothing wrong with biscuits and gravy, there’s endless options for other ground pork sausage recipes.

Whether it is a breakfast casserole or a hearty soup, sausage is a great addition to so many dishes. Check out our 10 favorite ground pork recipes.

1. Tuscan Sausage and White Bean Soup
2.  Old Fashioned Sausage Soup 
3. Savory Sausage Rice Casserole 
4. Southern Pinto Beans and Sausage
5. Potato Sausage Casserole 
6. Easy Pancake Sausage Casserole
7. Broccoli Cheese Soup with Sausage
8. Egg and Sausage Breakfast Casserole 
9. Crock Pot Sausage Queso Dip
10. Tuscan Soup with Kale and Sausage

Recipe FAQs

• Use mild, medium or spicy ground pork sausage based on your preference.
• Ground pork sausage is also called bulk pork sausage and it is most often found in the breakfast meat section of your grocery store.
• If the sausage is extra greasy, drain it before adding the tomatoes and other ingredients.
• Substitute canned, diced tomatoes for fresh tomatoes. Do not drain the canned tomatoes, and omit the extra water in the ingredient list.
• Hamburger could be substituted for ground pork sausage, but you may want to add some additional spices.
• Taste the taco pasta skillet, and add more salt, pepper or chili powder if more flavor is needed.
• Any color of pepper can be used.
• Want a Mexican-inspired rice one-pan meal? Try our Taco Rice Skillet.
• Check out our Amazon store for some pantry essentials and kitchen items.

Goulash Recipes

Old Fashioned Goulash

Instant Pot Goulash

Hungarian Goulash