Description
Creamy Rotel pasta brings southwestern zest to comfort food, blending spicy tomatoes and green chiles with cheesy, hearty goodness. Weeknight dinners become an instant celebration when you dive into this quick, satisfying meal that delivers bold flavors in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) penne pasta
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10 ounce / 284 grams) can rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
Spices, Seasonings, and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) worcestershire sauce
- 12 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, cubed and softened
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 12 teaspoon ground cumin
- 12 teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh chopped cilantro or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot of salted water and cook penne pasta until perfectly tender, following package instructions. Carefully drain and reserve.
- Select a spacious skillet and warm olive oil over medium-high temperature. Introduce ground beef and diced onion, methodically crumbling meat while sautéing until rich brown color develops and onions transform to translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Incorporate minced garlic and allow aromatics to release their essence for roughly 60 seconds.
- Pour undrained Rotel tomatoes into the skillet, followed by beef broth, heavy cream, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and an ensemble of spices including chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic salt, cumin, and black pepper. Encourage mixture to gently simmer, stirring periodically until cream cheese dissolves and sauce attains a luxurious, slightly thickened consistency.
- Reduce heat to low and fold in shredded cheddar cheese, ensuring complete integration for a silky, uniform sauce.
- Introduce cooked penne to the skillet, delicately tossing to guarantee each pasta piece becomes lavishly coated with the spicy, creamy Rotel sauce.
- Transfer to serving dishes, optionally adorning with fresh cilantro or parsley for vibrant color and complementary flavor profile.
Notes
- Drain pasta quickly to prevent overcooking and maintain perfect al dente texture.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a lighter sauce consistency.
- Grate fresh cheddar cheese for superior melting and richer flavor compared to pre-shredded varieties.
- Customize heat levels by selecting mild or spicy Rotel tomatoes based on personal preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg