Description
Creamy Rotel Pasta Bake is a delicious Tex-Mex inspired pasta casserole that combines tender pasta with a creamy, cheesy sauce, flavorful ground beef, and a hint of spice from Rotel tomatoes. This easy weeknight dinner is sure to become a family favorite!
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
Meat Mixture:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
Creamy Sauce:
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin (optional)
Additional:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley or green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Prepare Meat Mixture: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and diced onion, cook until browned. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Make Creamy Sauce: Stir in Rotel tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cumin. Cook until smooth.
- Combine and Bake: Mix in cooked pasta. Transfer to a baking dish. Top with cheddar cheese. Bake for 15–20 minutes until bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with parsley or green onions. Serve warm.
Notes
- You can use ground turkey or chicken as a lighter alternative.
- For extra heat, use hot Rotel or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- This dish freezes well—just thaw and reheat in the oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
