This week’s meal is a one-pot cheesy southwest pasta in honor of Taco Tuesday. And it happens to be a busy season with the kids – the second week back to school for our kids.
This post is sponsored by Michigan Beef Industry of Michigan.
It’s that time of year again when moms are running full speed with school drop-offs/pick-ups and extracurricular activities. And if we’re lucky, a night out to ourselves once in a while.
Of course, I wanted to create a no-fuss, hearty meal this month. And one that could come together in 30 minutes or less.
However, it’s not just the beginning of the school year that triggers the desire for quick meals, it’s a year-round goal for me.
I enjoy 30 minute meal ideas so much that I recently started my own 30 Minute Meals or Less Pinterest Board. So I can quickly find some no-fuss quick meal ideas when it’s 5 p.m. and I don’t know what to serve for dinner.
Yes, just because I’m a food blogger does NOT mean I always have dinners planned and prepared well in advance. Hence the necessity of simple meal ideas!
Dietitian’s Dish
If you’re making a one-pot meal like this Southwest Pasta dish, then I would definitely suggest using extra lean ground beef.
The ground beef I used is the leanest ground beef available. It has only 150 calories and only 4.5 grams of fat per 3-ounce serving. There is no fat needing to be removed after browning!
And since you add the water and pasta right to the beef, it’s not very appealing to have the extra fat sitting in the pot while you’re cooking the pasta.
One Pot Cheesy Southwest Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning 1 packet
- 12 ounce whole wheat rotini pasta
- 2-3 cups water
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 4.5 ounce can green chilies
- 1 cup 2% shredded Mexican-blend cheese
- 2 green onions chopped
Instructions
- In a large skillet or pot, add onions and pepper, cook until tender.
- Add ground beef and cook until meat is browned. Stir in taco seasoning.
- Add water and pasta, bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender and no liquid remains.
- Stir in salsa, green chilies, black beans and cheese.
- Top with green onions.
Want to learn more about the beef industry in addition to more delicious recipes and nutrition tidbits? Check out Beef It’s What’s for Dinner.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by the Michigan Beef Industry Commission. I was compensated for my time but my views and opinion on this post are and will always be my own.
This One Pot Cheesy Southwest Pasta post first appeared on Chocolate Slopes.
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