Here is the real scoop on this dish… I wanted Lasagna this evening so I went to the grocery store to get everything I needed. Wouldn’t you know it I got home and realized I got everything but the Lasagna noodles (the main ingredient). All I had in the house was elbow macaroni. It was delicious but it didn’t taste like Lasagna it tasted more like a cheesy Goulash. So Cheesy Goulash is born or at least my Cheesy Goulash is born 🙂
Cheesy Goulash Bake
1 to 2 lbs ground beef
1 small onion diced
Salt, pepper & granulated garlic or (whatever garlic you prefer), and Italian seasoning to taste
Parsley
2 eggs
24oz container cottage cheese
Shredded Mozzarella cheese (I used 16 oz or 2 8oz packages)
1 pckg. Elbow Macaroni
1 jar spaghetti sauce (I prefer Ragu, but whichever brand is preferred is fine)
Directions
Pre-heat oven to 350
Boil macaroni and drain
Brown ground beef, seasonings and onion and drain then add the jar of spaghetti sauce hold back 2 to 3 tablespoons of sauce.
In a small mixing bowl add cottage cheese, a handful of Mozzarella cheese or desired amount, parsley and eggs mix well. Salt & pepper to taste.
In baking dish sprayed with a non-stick spray spread the 3 tablespoons of spaghetti sauce evenly on bottom of pan. Layer/spread macaroni evenly, spread cottage cheese mixture over macaroni, spread meat sauce over cottage cheese mixture and top with lots of Mozzarella cheese.
Place foil loosely over pan and bake for about 45 minutes to an hour. Uncover add a little more Mozzarella cheese if you dare add more cheese (you know I did) and bake for about 20 minutes uncovered. Cool and serve.
This dish came together as an afterthought and by the seat of my pants. Looking back I should have and next time I will mix one egg, a small amount of cottage cheese, a little Mozzarella cheese and mix well with the macaroni to make more of a base out of the macaroni.
It is delicious so enjoy!