Queso Mac and Cheese with Spicy Ground Beef

Chipotle-spiced ground beef and chickpea pasta stirred into jarred queso, then finished under the broiler with melted Monterey Jack.

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef (96/4)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp ground chipotle chili powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp white pepper (or black pepper)
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 cup chipotle Cholula (or hot sauce of choice)
• 8 oz Banza elbow pasta (or pasta of choice)
• 12 oz jar queso dip
• 3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack (optional topping)

Steps

1. Boil salted water and cook the pasta 2–3 minutes short of the package time.
2. Warm oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the beef, dust with the spice mix, and cook until browned through.
3. Stir in the hot sauce and cook about 30 seconds until most of the liquid evaporates.
4. Turn heat to low, mix in the queso, then carefully fold in the drained pasta.
5. Scatter Monterey Jack over the top and broil 3–5 minutes until melted (or melt the cheese into the queso before adding the pasta).

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