Rotel Beef Pasta (Print-Friendly Version)

# What You'll Need:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 240 ml water
02 - 15 ml olive oil
03 - 120 g shredded cheddar cheese
04 - 240 ml heavy cream
05 - 30 g taco seasoning
06 - 284 g can diced tomatoes with green chilies including the juice (like Rotel)
07 - 450 g ground beef
08 - 340 g rotini pasta

→ Seasonings

09 - Black pepper, to your liking
10 - Salt, add as needed
11 - 5 ml onion powder
12 - 5 ml garlic powder

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Dish it up right away, and throw on extra cheese or fresh herbs if you like.
02 - Let everything bubble together for a couple more minutes so some sauce cooks into the pasta. Give it a taste and tweak the seasonings if you want.
03 - Dump the cooked rotini right into your skillet and give it a big stir so the sauce covers all the pasta.
04 - Add a little black pepper and salt until it tastes just right for you.
05 - Sprinkle in all the cheddar and keep stirring until it’s gooey and melted into the sauce.
06 - Pour in the heavy cream and stir until everything’s creamy looking.
07 - Drop the heat down low, let it gently simmer a minute or two.
08 - Pour in those diced tomatoes with chilies, juice and all, and give everything a stir.
09 - Toss in the water, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir it all together.
10 - Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the browned beef and mix it up good.
11 - Once the beef’s brown and no pink’s left, drain off the extra grease.
12 - Drop the beef into your pan, break it up, and let it cook until browned through—should be about 6-8 minutes.
13 - Warm up the olive oil in a big skillet over medium heat.
14 - Pour the cooked noodles into a colander to drain, then set them aside for a bit.
15 - Drop the rotini in your boiling water and cook until it’s just firm enough, about 8 to 10 minutes. Check your box if you’re unsure.
16 - Fill your biggest pot with water and get it boiling over pretty high heat.

# Helpful Notes:

01 - Rotini grabs onto the sauce nicely, but you can totally use any other short pasta.
02 - Want it spicier? Grab tomatoes with hotter chilies or toss in diced jalapenos.
03 - Ground turkey or chicken swaps in easily for a lighter dish.
04 - Let the sauce cook down longer before mixing in the cream and cheese if you prefer things thicker.
05 - Top it all off with chopped green onion or cilantro for a fresh kick.