Rotel Beef Pasta (Printable 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—use all the juice
07 -
450 g ground beef
08 -
340 g rotini pasta
→ Seasonings
09 -
Black pepper, as much as you like
10 -
Salt, as much as you want
11 -
5 ml onion powder
12 -
5 ml garlic powder
# How to Make It:
01 -
Grab a plate, dish up, and top with more cheese or some fresh herbs if you feel like it.
02 -
Let everything cook together for another 2–3 minutes so the noodles soak up the sauce. Taste and tweak the seasoning if you need to.
03 -
Mix the cooked rotini right into the pan, making sure all the pasta gets nicely covered in sauce.
04 -
Taste your sauce. Add salt and black pepper until you like it.
05 -
Dump in the shredded cheddar and stir until you can't spot any unmelted cheese in the sauce.
06 -
Pour in the cream and stir. The sauce should turn creamy and smooth.
07 -
Turn the heat down low and let everything bubble gently for 2–3 minutes.
08 -
Pour in your can of tomatoes with chilies—don’t drain them. Stir everything so it’s combined.
09 -
Toss the water, onion powder, and garlic powder in the skillet, then stir it all up really well.
10 -
Shake taco seasoning on the cooked beef, then give it a good mix.
11 -
If there’s extra grease in the skillet after the beef's brown, drain it off now.
12 -
Crumble the ground beef into your hot skillet and cook until you don’t see any pink, usually 6–8 minutes.
13 -
Pour olive oil into your big skillet and warm it up over medium heat.
14 -
Strain off all the liquid from your cooked pasta and set it aside for later.
15 -
Once the water is rolling, add the rotini and cook until it’s just right, checking the package for timing—usually 8–10 minutes.
16 -
Fill a big pot with water and set it over medium-high. Wait for it to come to a good boil.
# Additional Tips:
01 -
Any short noodle shape can work here—rotini grabs onto lots of sauce, but don’t worry if you swap it.
02 -
To make it spicy, choose hotter tomatoes or throw in chopped fresh jalapenos.
03 -
Ground chicken or turkey make it lighter if you want to skip beef.
04 -
If you want a thick and rich sauce, let it cook longer before the cream and cheese go in.
05 -
Try topping your dish with a handful of chopped cilantro or green onions for more zing.