Description
A rich, cheesy, and comforting pasta dinner with a spicy Tex-Mex kick thanks to Rotel. This easy, crowd-pleasing recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep alike.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
12 ounces penne pasta
1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies (undrained)
4 ounces cream cheese (cubed)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it apart until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease if necessary.
3. Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the beef. Stir in the can of Rotel (undrained) and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add cubed cream cheese and stir until melted into a smooth sauce.
5. Add shredded cheddar cheese and stir until fully melted and the sauce is creamy.
6. Add cooked pasta to the skillet and mix until well coated in the cheesy sauce.
7. Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Notes
For extra creaminess, add a splash of heavy cream at the end.
Swap penne for rotini, shells, or rigatoni for a twist.
To reduce spice, use mild Rotel and stir in sour cream before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, rotel pasta, ground beef pasta