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Creamy Rotel Pasta with Ground Beef

creamy rotel pasta with ground beef - featured image
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A quick and comforting pasta dish featuring creamy cheese sauce, spicy Rotel tomatoes, and savory browned ground beef. Perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20 recommended)
  • 1 can (10 oz / 283g) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 8 ounces (225g) elbow macaroni
  • 1 cup (115g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 4 ounces (115g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup (240ml) milk (whole or 2%)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: 1 small jalapeño, finely diced

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions, usually 8-10 minutes, until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until fully browned, about 6-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Drain excess fat if desired.
  3. Lower heat to medium. Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef. Cook until fragrant and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add diced jalapeño if using.
  4. Pour in Rotel diced tomatoes with juices. Stir and simmer for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
  5. Lower heat to medium-low. Add softened cream cheese and milk. Stir constantly until cream cheese melts and sauce is smooth. Add more milk if sauce is too thick.
  6. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Add cooked pasta and gently toss to coat evenly.
  7. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Let warm through for 2-3 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not rush browning the beef to develop flavor. Keep heat medium-low when melting cream cheese to avoid curdling. Reserve some pasta water to thin sauce if needed. For dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and milk with plant-based alternatives. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.

Nutrition

Keywords: Rotel pasta, ground beef pasta, creamy pasta, comfort food, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, cheesy pasta, spicy pasta

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/creamy-rotel-pasta-with-ground-beef-easy-comforting-dinner-recipe/