Description
A hearty, one-pot Mexican-inspired dinner combining tender pasta coated in rich enchilada sauce, melted cheddar cheese, and savory ground beef—all ready in 30 minutes for easy weeknight serving.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 pound penne or rigatoni pasta
2 cans (10 oz each) red enchilada sauce
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup beef broth
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium. Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant
Add ground beef, cook until browned and crumbled
Pour in beef broth and enchilada sauce, stirring to combine
Bring to a simmer and cook 10 minutes
Add pasta and gently stir until coated and tender
Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy
Season with optional salt or spices as needed
Notes
Use a non-reactive pot for acidic ingredients like sauce
For extra flavor, add 1 teaspoon ground cumin or chili powder
Leftovers store well for 3-4 days in airtight containers
Avoid overcooking pasta, which becomes gummy without fresh water
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg