Queso Mac and Cheese with Spicy Ground Beef

About This Recipe

Chickpea pasta in a lower calorie queso with spicy chipotle ground beef and monterey jack cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Lean Ground Beef (96/4)
• 1 Tbsp 16g 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 C 60g Chipotle Cholula Hot Sauce (or your choice of hot sauce)
• 8 oz Banza Pasta Elbows
• 12 oz jar Queso Dip (I used Trader Joe's)
• 3/4 C 84g Shredded Monterey Jack, optional topping

Instructions

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil to cook the pasta. Cook the pasta for 2-3 minutes less than instructed on its packaging.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the olive oil. Once hot, add the ground beef.
3. Mix the spices in a small bowl and add to the top of the ground beef. Stir the ground beef and continue cooking until no pink remains.
4. Add the chipotle Cholula and cook until no liquid remains, about 30 seconds.
5. Reduce the heat to low and add the queso. Stir to fully incorporate before adding the cooked pasta.
6. Top with cheese and place under a high broil in your oven for 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese. (Or you could stir in the cheese with the queso before adding the cooked pasta.) Top with crushed chipotle peppers and fresh cilantro, if desired.