Queso Rotel Pasta with Ground Beef | CookOS

Queso Rotel Pasta

Name: Queso Rotel Pasta with Ground Beef
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter; 1/2 Vidalia onion, diced; 1/2 green bell pepper, diced; 1 lb ground beef; 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, mild; 1 packet taco seasoning mix; 16 oz queso dip; 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream; 1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese; 16 oz penne pasta, cooked and drained

Queso Rotel Pasta is a one-pot Tex-Mex pasta dish combining seasoned ground beef, queso dip, and rotel tomatoes into a creamy, cheesy weeknight meal that comes together in under 30 minutes.

🌍Tex-Mex 🏷️Queso pasta 🏷️Rotel pasta 🏷️Pasta 🏷️Ground beef 🏷️Cheesy

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Total

30 min

Servings

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$20–$33

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by mamasdownsouthkitchen

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Ingredients

2 tbsp butter
1/2 Vidalia onion, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 lb ground beef
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, mild
1 packet taco seasoning mix
16 oz queso dip
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
16 oz penne pasta, cooked and drained

10 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
In a large pot or skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
2
Add the diced Vidalia onion and green bell pepper. Sauté for a few minutes until slightly translucent.
3
Add the ground beef to the pot. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it's no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
4
Stir in the can of diced tomatoes and green chiles and the packet of taco seasoning. Mix well to combine.
5
Add the queso dip and heavy whipping cream. Stir continuously until the queso is melted and the sauce is smooth and well combined.
6
Stir in the shredded Colby Jack cheese until it is fully melted into the sauce.
7
Add the cooked and drained penne pasta to the sauce.
8
Stir everything together until the pasta is evenly coated in the queso sauce. Serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Dice the Vidalia onion and bell pepper small for even cooking and distribution throughout the dish.
Brown the ground beef thoroughly and drain excess fat before adding seasoning to avoid a greasy final dish.
Stir the cooked pasta into the queso mixture gently to prevent breaking and ensure even coating without overworking.
Add the heavy cream at the end to achieve a creamy consistency without breaking the cheese sauce.

Substitutions

Queso dip → Cheese sauce or melted Velveeta (maintains creamy texture)
Vidalia onion → Yellow or sweet onion (similar sweetness)
Colby Jack → Cheddar or Monterey Jack (mild cheese works best)
Heavy whipping cream → Half-and-half or whole milk (slightly less rich but works)

Storage & make-ahead

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally and adding a splash of cream if it thickens too much.