Description

This Creamy Rotel Pasta with Ground Beef is a rich, flavorful, and easy-to-make dish perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner. Combining tender pasta, savory ground beef, and a luscious blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar, enhanced by zesty Rotel tomatoes with green chilies and warming spices, it creates a deliciously creamy and mildly spicy meal that everyone will enjoy.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Pasta

12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or shells)

For the Beef Mixture

1 lb ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced

For the Sauce

1 (10 oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, cubed
½ cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper, to taste

For Garnish

Chopped parsley (optional)

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Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
Sauté Onions and Garlic: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
Cook the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Continue cooking until the beef is thoroughly browned and no longer pink. Drain any excess grease from the pan if necessary.
Add the Creamy Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the undrained can of Rotel tomatoes, cream cheese cubes, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir continuously until the cheeses have melted and the sauce is creamy and well blended.
Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the creamy beef mixture. Toss thoroughly to combine and ensure the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. Allow the skillet to simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes to heat everything through.
Serve: Remove from heat and serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley if desired for a fresh touch.

Notes

For extra spice, use hot Rotel tomatoes or add a dash of cayenne pepper.
This dish reheats well and can be made ahead for quick and easy weeknight meals.
You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or sausage for variation.