Description
Indulge in the creamy goodness of this Tex-Mex-inspired Creamy Rotel Pasta Bake. A satisfying meal featuring pasta, ground beef, and a blend of cheeses, baked to perfection for a comforting dish that’s perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces penne or rotini pasta
Meat Mixture:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chiles)
Cheese Sauce:
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Topping and Garnish:
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped green onions or cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Meat Mixture: In a skillet, cook ground beef, onion, and garlic until browned. Add Rotel and remaining ingredients, stirring until melted into a sauce.
- Combine and Bake: Mix in the cooked pasta, transfer to the baking dish, top with mozzarella, and bake for 15–20 minutes until bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with green onions or cilantro before serving.
Notes
- You can swap the beef for shredded chicken or black beans for a meatless option.
- Customize the spice level with extra Rotel or jalapeños.
- This dish is great for meal prep and reheats well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1½ cups
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
