Rotel Pasta Fiesta | Creamy, Cheesy Tex-Mex Dinner Delight Recipe
Rotel Pasta Fiesta is a creamy, cheesy Tex-Mex inspired dish featuring tender pasta tossed with spicy Rotel tomatoes, seasoned ground meat, and melted cheddar cheese. This quick and satisfying skillet meal combines bold flavors with a smooth, rich sauce for an easy weeknight dinner that everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (penne or rotini)
Meat and Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- 1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies (undrained)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp taco seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cheese and Garnish
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh cilantro or parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, following package instructions, usually around 9-11 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
- Brown Meat: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess grease and return skillet to heat.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Pour the undrained Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies into the skillet with the browned meat. Stir in the heavy cream, taco seasoning, and garlic powder. Reduce heat and let the mixture simmer gently for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and stir well to coat all the noodles in the creamy, spicy sauce.
- Melt Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top of the pasta mixture. Stir continuously until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce becomes creamy and smooth.
- Season to Taste: Taste the dish and adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper as desired.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer the Rotel Pasta Fiesta to serving bowls or plates. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro or parsley if desired. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey with ground chicken or beef according to your preference.
- For a lower-fat option, use half-and-half or milk instead of heavy cream, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Adjust the amount of taco seasoning and green chilies to control the spice level.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat nicely on the stovetop or microwave.
- Adding a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes can enhance the heat if desired.
Keywords: Rotel pasta, creamy pasta, Tex-Mex pasta, cheesy pasta, quick dinner, ground beef pasta, easy pasta recipe
