Description
Ready for the ultimate one-pan comfort meal? This Creamy Rotel Pasta with Ground Beef is a fast, hearty, and flavorful weeknight favorite. Think tender pasta, juicy beef, creamy cheese sauce, and just the right kick from zesty Rotel tomatoes. It’s everything you love about a quick dinner rolled into one pot of cozy goodness. Whether you’re meal prepping or whipping up a spontaneous dinner, this easy recipe is a solid winner for easy dinner ideas, family food ideas, or creamy pasta cravings. Perfect for leftovers, too!
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes with green chilies
8 oz cream cheese, cubed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream
12 oz pasta (penne or rotini)
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
Instructions
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onions and minced garlic until softened.
2. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
3. Stir in the Rotel (with juices) and let simmer for 3–4 minutes.
4. Add cream cheese and heavy cream, stirring until smooth. Mix in shredded cheddar.
5. Cook pasta separately in salted water. Drain, saving 1/4 cup pasta water.
6. Combine pasta with the sauce. Stir well and use pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
7. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Serve hot with extra cheese or herbs if desired.
Notes
Use freshly shredded cheese for a smoother melt.
You can swap ground beef for turkey or sausage for a flavor variation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: creamy rotel pasta, quick pasta dinner, one pot meals, easy pasta recipe