Description
Rotel pasta fiesta brings zesty Mexican-inspired flavors dancing across your plate with creamy, cheesy goodness. Spicy tomatoes and green chiles create an irresistible comfort meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 16 oz rotini pasta
- 2 cans (10 oz each) rotel tomatoes
Cheese and Dairy:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, sautéing diced onions until translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and ground beef, breaking meat into crumbles while cooking until fully browned and no pink remains, about 7-8 minutes.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over the meat mixture, stirring thoroughly to ensure even coating and allow spices to bloom for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour Rotel tomatoes into the skillet, mixing with the seasoned beef and creating a vibrant, zesty sauce.
- Simultaneously, cook rotini pasta in a separate pot of salted boiling water until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes, then drain completely.
- Reduce skillet heat to low, gently folding the cooked pasta into the meat and tomato mixture, ensuring uniform distribution.
- Incorporate heavy cream and half the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until cheese melts and creates a creamy, rich sauce.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, covering the pasta and allowing it to melt from the residual heat.
- Season with salt and black pepper, adjusting to taste.
- Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro, providing a bright, herbaceous finish to the dish.
- Serve hot, directly from the skillet for maximum flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting taco seasoning or adding diced jalapeños for extra spice kick.
- Opt for lean ground beef or turkey to reduce fat content without compromising rich flavor profile.
- Create vegetarian version by substituting meat with black beans or plant-based crumbles, maintaining protein-packed meal structure.
- Enhance creamy texture by experimenting with different cheese blends like pepper jack or monterey jack for more complex taste dimensions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 51g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg