Description
Creamy Rotel pasta fiesta delivers a zesty Tex-Mex flavor explosion with simple ingredients. Spicy cheese sauce and tender noodles create a quick weeknight dinner that will satisfy hungry families.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground chuck
- 8 oz (226 g) pasta noodles
- 10 oz (283 g) Rotel tomatoes
- 8 oz (226 g) Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 4 oz (113 g) Blanco Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, diced
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 tsp seasoned salt
- 1 tsp lemon pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 1 tsp Accent
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil pasta in salted water until perfectly tender, then drain and reserve in a separate bowl, ensuring optimal texture for the final dish.
- Meat Foundation: Crumble ground chuck in a large skillet over medium-high heat, browning completely and eliminating any pink traces. Drain excess fat using a colander to maintain a lean base.
- Vegetable Infusion: Sauté finely chopped onions and diced bell peppers with the browned meat, developing a fragrant and flavorful foundation. Cook until vegetables become translucent and tender.
- Sauce Development: Introduce Rotel tomatoes and selected seasonings to the skillet, stirring to distribute evenly. Simmer for 5 minutes to concentrate and meld the robust flavors.
- Cheese Fusion: Reduce heat and incorporate Velveeta and Blanco Velveeta cheeses, stirring continuously until completely melted into a silky, uniform sauce. Gradually stream heavy whipping cream, whisking to create a luxurious, integrated mixture.
- Final Assembly: Fold prepared pasta into the spicy, creamy sauce, ensuring each noodle is generously coated. Top with a layer of shredded cheese, then cover and let residual heat melt the cheese for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Drain Meat Thoroughly: Remove all excess fat from ground chuck to prevent a greasy texture and ensure a cleaner, more appetizing dish.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Stir continuously when adding Velveeta cheeses to achieve a smooth, lump-free sauce without scorching.
- Pasta Coating Strategy: Use tongs or a large spoon to evenly distribute the spicy sauce, guaranteeing each pasta strand is fully coated with flavor.
- Cheese Topping Trick: Allow residual heat to melt the final cheese layer gently, creating a perfectly melted, glossy top without additional cooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1150 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg