Description
Creamy Rotel Pasta with Ground Beef is a comforting, flavor-packed dish that’s easy to make. It combines tender penne pasta, seasoned ground beef, and a creamy, cheesy sauce infused with Tex-Mex flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, cubed and softened
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh chopped cilantro or parsley (for garnish
Instructions
1. Cook the Pasta: Begin by cooking the penne pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
2. Brown the Beef: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat, if needed.
3. Sauté the Veggies: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened.
4. Add Tomatoes and Broth: Stir in the Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies (including the juice) and the beef broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
5. Make it Creamy: Add the heavy cream, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and all the seasonings (chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic salt, cumin, and black pepper). Stir until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
6. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet and toss everything together until the pasta is well coated in the creamy Rotel sauce.
7. Add Cheese: Sprinkle in the shredded cheddar cheese and stir until it’s melted and incorporated throughout the dish.
8. Serve and Enjoy: Garnish the Creamy Rotel Pasta with Ground Beef with fresh chopped cilantro or parsley. Serve hot and savor every bite!
Notes
For an even cheesier pasta, feel free to add an extra 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar or a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.
If you like a little more heat, increase the amount of Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
Be sure not to overcook the penne pasta. Cook it just until it’s al dente for the best texture in the finished dish.
Store any leftover Creamy Rotel Pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When reheating, you may need to add a splash of broth or cream to loosen up the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 970mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 100mg