Description
Creamy enchilada pasta delivers Mexican-inspired comfort on a plate. Cheesy noodles with bold spices and tender chicken create a quick weeknight meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (ground turkey can also be used)
- 20 oz (567 g) enchilada sauce (if you have a 19-oz can, that will work fine)
- 8 oz (226 g) dry (uncooked) rotini pasta (or other similar shapes)
- 2 cups beef broth (chicken broth can also be used)
- 1 ½ cups monterey jack, colby, or cheddar cheese
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- 3 tsp taco seasoning (or an equal combination of cumin powder, chili powder, and garlic powder)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup corn, thawed if using frozen (optional)
- 2 oz (57 g) cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes (optional)
- Green onions
- Fresh diced tomatoes
- Black olives
- Sour cream
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Sauté Station: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium temperature, then gently cook onions until they become translucent and softened.
- Meat Preparation: Add ground beef to the skillet, methodically crumbling and browning the meat while stirring continuously, then introduce taco seasoning to infuse robust flavor profiles.
- Liquid Integration: Pour enchilada sauce, chicken broth, and uncooked pasta into the skillet, ensuring thorough mixing and creating a harmonious culinary foundation.
- Simmering Technique: Cover and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and allow the pasta to simmer gently, stirring periodically to prevent sticking and promote even cooking, approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Creamy Enhancement: During the final cooking moments, incorporate sour cream, cream cheese, and corn kernels, stirring to create a rich, velvety texture.
- Cheese Finale: Remove from heat and fold in shredded cheese until completely melted, creating a luxurious and cohesive dish.
- Serving Presentation: Transfer to serving dishes and embellish with fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, or additional cheese for a vibrant and inviting presentation.
Notes
- Meat Precision: Break ground beef into tiny crumbles for even cooking and better texture integration.
- Seasoning Secret: Allow taco seasoning to bloom for exactly 1 minute to maximize flavor depth and aromatic release.
- Pasta Stirring Technique: Regularly stir during simmering to prevent pasta from sticking and ensure uniform cooking throughout the dish.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Remove skillet from heat before adding cheese to prevent burning and achieve smooth, creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg