Taco Mac and Cheese
Creamy and indulgent, this taco mac and cheese is a comforting dish loaded with ground beef, peppers, onions, and tender pasta. Everything is tossed in a rich, cheesy, taco-seasoned cream sauce, making for one seriously satisfying meal!
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground beef 85/15 or 80/20
- 1 lb. dry elbow macaroni or shells
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp adobo all-purpose seasoning
- ½ tsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 white onion diced
- 1 small red bell pepper diced
- 1 small green bell pepper diced
- 1 small yellow bell pepper diced
- 1 jalapeno diced (and seeded if desired for less spice)
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1.5 cups whole milk
- 1.5 cups half and half or heavy cream
- 4 oz Velveeta cheese cubed
- 1 oz taco seasoning
- 1 can Ro-Tel fire-roasted diced tomatoes & green chiles
- 2/3 cup shredded cheddar
- 2/3 cup shredded mozzarella
- Olive oil
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil until hot. Add in the ground beef and use a spatula to break it apart, spreading it into an even layer. Cook untouched for 4 minutes.
- Flip the beef and continue to break it apart as it cooks, about 4-5 minutes. Remove the beef and set aside in a bowl. Skim off most of the excess fat in the pan.
- Meanwhile, get a pot of water boiling and cook the pasta.
- Into the same skillet (still over medium heat), add the jalapeno, bell peppers, onion, and garlic. Cook for about 8-10 minutes or until partially caramelized, stirring frequently and scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Adding splashes of water occasionally can speed up the cooking process. Remove veggies and set aside.
- Into the same pan, add milk, half and half, and Velveeta. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring to incorporate the Velveeta. Whisk in the taco seasoning and fold in the drained Ro-Tel tomatoes and shredded cheeses. Stir until the cheese melts.
- Add the ground beef and pepper/onion mixture into the cream sauce along with the cooked pasta. Fold all the ingredients into the sauce, evenly combining. Serve immediately.