Southwestern Pasta Casserole Food

SOUTHWESTERN BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the garlic and onion; drain.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the meat mixture, chili powder, black beans, corn, sour cream and salsa. Stir until well blended.
• Into a 9x13 inch baking dish, spoon enough of the beef mixture to cover the bottom. Arrange half of the crushed tortilla chips on top of the meat mixture and layer with 1 cup of Cheddar cheese. Spoon another layer of the meat mixture on top of the cheese layer, cover with remaining chips and layer with 1 cup of cheese. Spread final layer of meat mixture on top and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese on top. Top with diced tomato and green onions.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

MAKE-AHEAD CHEESY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 4-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in onion, bell pepper, poblano and jalapeño chiles; cook about 6 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Stir in flour and taco seasoning mix; cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually beat in broth with whisk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in cream cheese and Cheddar cheese.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package for minimum cook time. Drain; stir pasta into sauce with chicken, frozen corn and black beans. Pour pasta mixture into baking dish, and pour enchilada sauce over top.
• Bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and sprinkle with tortilla chips. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through and sauce is bubbling around edges. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro and red onion just before serving.
• To freeze: Line 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with foil, making sure foil is as smooth as possible, as wrinkled foil may get stuck in sauce during freezing process. Leave enough overhang to lift casserole out of dish. Spray foil with cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate sauce 30 to 40 minutes before assembling casserole. Mix sauce with cooked pasta, chicken, frozen corn and beans; spread in lined baking dish (do not add enchilada sauce); cover tightly with another layer of foil. Freeze unbaked casserole about 8 hours or until completely frozen. Transfer frozen casserole to labeled 2-gallon resealable freezer plastic bag. Remove air; seal and freeze up to three months. To bake: Remove foil, and transfer to 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cover and thaw in refrigerator until completely thawed, at least 48 hours. Heat oven to 350°F. Remove cover, and top with enchilada sauce. Bake 20 minutes; top with crushed tortilla chips. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through and bubbly around edges (165°F in center). Let stand 15 minutes. Top with cilantro and red onion just before serving.

SOUTHWEST PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in milk. Stir in spinach and oregano; set aside. , In a nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in the picante sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili powder and cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Drain pasta; stir into meat mixture., In a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray, layer half of the meat mixture and all of the spinach mixture. Top with remaining meat mixture. , Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with olives and onions. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

SOUTHWESTERN PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Take 1/2 of the chopped onion and saute in a tiny bit of oil (I sprayed pot with nonstick cooking spray) until tender. Add hamburger (seasoned with salt and pepper) and brown. (drain fat).
• 2. Add 2/3 cup water and 1 package of taco seasoning. Bring to a boil then simmer to let meat thicken. Open the can of chopped tomatoes and chilies and drain the liquid into the meat mixture. Stir well and continue to simmer.
• 3. While preparing meat, boil water (add a little salt) and cook pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the meat mixture.
• 4. Take the chopped chilies and add to the sour cream. Mix well. Add the other half of chopped onions to this mixture. (will give casserole some texture).
• 5. Take a 2 quart casserole and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Layer with half of the pasta meat mixture. Next spread all of the sour cream mixture. Then add the pasta meat mixture on top of the sour cream mixture. Sprinkle the cheese on top.
• 6. Cover and bake for 30 minutes at 350*. Serve with a salad and garlic bread.

SOUTHWESTERN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat, crumbling beef, until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in next 8 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Drain macaroni; stir into beef mixture., Preheat oven to 375°. Transfer macaroni mixture to 2 greased 2-qt. baking dishes. Top with cheese and jalapenos. Cover and bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake until bubbly and heated through, about 10 minutes longer. Serve 1 casserole. Cool the second; cover and freeze up to 3 months., To use frozen casserole: Thaw in refrigerator 8 hours. Preheat oven to 375°. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°, 20-25 minutes.

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F and spray a large casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Add all of the ingredients (minus the shredded cheese) into the casserole dish and mix together with a wooden spoon making sure that everything is well mixed and submerged in liquid.
• Then, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375ºF for about 50 minutes.
• Uncover and top with shredded cheese. Bake, uncovered, for an additional 10 minutes.
• Once fully cooked, let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Top with Greek yogurt, more shredded cheese, salsa, and green onions.

SOUTHWESTERN BEEF-AND-PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
• Meanwhile, coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
• In large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef with seasoning and salt until browned.
• Stir in salsa; remove from heat.
• In large bowl, mix Alfredo sauce, eggs and 1 cup cheese; stir in pasta.
• In another bowl, toss spinach with 1/2 cup cheese.
• To assemble, spoon half of pasta mixture, about 4 cups, into pan.
• Sprinkle spinach mixture evenly over pasta.
• Top with even layer of beef mixture.
• Top with remaining pasta mixture.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
• Bake until hot in center and top is golden, about 1 hour.
• Run sharp knife around edge of pan to loosen pasta.
• Let stand 10 minutes.
• Remove side of pan; sprinkle with parsley.

SOUTHWESTERN VEGETARIAN PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, deep skillet. Saute onion, green pepper, garlic, chili powder and cumin. Stir in tomatoes, chickpeas and corn. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, or until thickened and heated through.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Combine pasta and sauce. Sprinkle each serving with Monterey Jack cheese.

SOUTHWESTERN PASTA

Steps:

• You will also need: Large casserole dish and a large baking sheet