Tex-Mex Pasta Casserole: A Flavorful Twist on Comfort Food
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Tex-Mex Pasta Casserole is a cheesy, hearty, and satisfying dish that combines Mexican cuisine’s comforting flavors with the ease of a pasta casserole. Perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings, this recipe will become a favorite in your household.
Tex-Mex Pasta Casserole
This casserole is a delicious combination of seasoned ground beef, colorful bell peppers, kidney beans, and pasta, all baked with tomato purée and a generous helping of cheddar cheese. The result is a flavorful and comforting meal packed with protein, veggies, and cheesy goodness.
The Tex-Mex flavors shine in this dish, with the cumin, cayenne pepper, and garlic adding warmth and depth to the savory beef and beans. The sweetness of the bell peppers balances out the spices, while the creamy cheddar cheese ties everything together. Each bite is a delicious blend of textures and flavors to please your taste buds.
Ingredients
The full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions is at the bottom of this post. You can save a tree and the recipe to your personal and private recipe box here on Call Me PMc. This way, you’ll never misplace it.
- Ground beef. You can substitute ground chicken or turkey.
- Olive oil.
- Onion, diced. Try a diced shallot for a milder flavor.
- Mixed bell peppers, cut into 1-inch cubes.
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Cayenne pepper. Add more or less depending on how hot you want it.
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
- Kidney beans or black beans
- Tomato purée
- Cilantro
- Cooked pasta
- Cheddar cheese. You can substitute any melty cheese. Try Monterrey, Pepper Jack, or Colby. I don’t recommend ever using pre-shredded cheese. Because of additives, it will not melt smoothly.
- Cilantro, chopped
Tex-Mex Pasta Casserole Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F | 200 C. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, season ground beef with garlic and the spices
- Heat an ovenproof skillet with oil on medium-high heat. Cook onion and bell peppers for 2 minutes. Stir and add beef. Cook for 1 minute by breaking the beef.
- Add beans, tomato purée and cilantro. Stir and bring to a simmer for 1 minute.
- Turn off the stove and add cooked pasta. Stir. Adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Transfer half of the pasta beef mixture in the baking dish. Sprinkle it with 1 cup of cheese. Cover with the other half and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until the cheese melts and is nicely brown.
- Serve immediately.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Allow to cool down and freeze in an airtight container for 1 month.
Reheat in the microwave until heated through.
Tex-Mex Pasta Casserole Cooking Tips
- When browning the ground beef, make sure to break it up into small pieces with a spatula or spoon to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Don’t skimp on the seasoning! The cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper add essential flavor to the dish, so be sure to season generously.
- Feel free to customize the recipe to suit your tastes. You can add extra vegetables like corn or spinach, or swap out the ground beef for ground chicken or turkey for a lighter option.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I make this dish ahead of time?
A: Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake. Just be sure to cover it tightly with foil to prevent it from drying out.
Q: Can I freeze leftovers?
A: Absolutely! This casserole freezes well, so you can portion out any leftovers and freeze them for later. Just thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Q: Can I use different types of cheese?
A: Of course! While cheddar cheese adds a classic flavor to this Tex-Mex Pasta Casserole, you can experiment with different cheeses like Monterey Jack or pepper jack for a spicy kick.
Tex-Mex Pasta Casserole Conclusion:
Tex-Mex Chicken Pasta Casserole is a simple yet satisfying dish perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. With its bold flavors, cheesy goodness, and hearty ingredients, it’s sure to become a staple in your recipe repertoire. Give it a try and enjoy a taste of Tex-Mex comfort food tonight!
More easy recipes that you’ll enjoy: Tex-Mex Cornbread Salad, EASY MEXICAN RICE, Baked Tex-Mex Pimiento Cheese Dip Recipe, BLACK BEAN SALSA, and EASY WHITE QUESO DIP.
Tex-Mex Pasta Casserole
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Save To Your Recipe BoxIngredients
- 1 pound (453 g) ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 and ½ cup (9.24 oz | 262 g) mixed bell peppers cut in 1-inch cubes
- 2 medium garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 14 oz can (400 g) kidney beans
- 2 cups (14.99oz | 425g) tomato purée
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 3 cups (21.16oz | 600g) cooked pasta
- 2 and ½ cups (11.64oz | 330g) cheddar cheese mix red and white,
- Garnish with chopped cilantro
Instructions
- See narrative above for substitutions.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F | 200 C. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, season ground beef with garlic and the spices
- Heat an ovenproof skillet with oil on medium high heat. Cook onion and bell peppers for 2 minutes. Stir and add beef. Cook for 1 minute by breaking the beef.
- Add beans, tomato purée and cilantro. Stir and bring to a simmer for 1 minute.
- Switch off the stove and add cooked pasta. Stir. Adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Transfer half of the pasta beef mixture in the baking dish. Sprinkle it with 1 cup of cheese. Cover with the other half and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until the cheese melts and is nicely brown.
- Serve hot. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.