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Queso Taco Pasta Bake
Queso Taco Pasta Bake

Before you jump to Queso Taco Pasta Bake recipe, you may want to read this short interesting healthy tips about Choosing Fast Food That’s Good For You.

Almost every single article about reducing your weight and getting healthy tells readers to avoid drive through windows like the plague as well as to carry out all of their own cooking. This is certainly excellent information. From time to time, though, you totally do not wish to make a whole meal for your family or even just for yourself. Once in a while you only want to check out the drive through while you are on your way home and complete the day. There is simply no reason you shouldn’t be able to do this once in a while and be free of the guilt usually associated with “diet slips”. You are able to do this because lots of the popular joints are now marketing “healthy” menu alternatives to keep their businesses up. Here is how you can find healthy food choices at the drive through.

Concentrate on the sides. Not too long ago, the only real side dish item available at a fast food restaurant was French fries. Now more or less all of the popular fast food places have expanded their menus. There are many salads around today. You might get chili. Baked potatoes can even be bought. You can pick fruit. There are many healthy options that do not consist of putting something deep fried into your body. When deciding on your supper from the drive through, choose a variety of side items instead of choosing a pre-made “meal deal”. You’ll maintain your calorie and fatty food count lower and escape time and effort.

Basic sense states that the simplest way to lose pounds and get healthy is to ban fast food from your diet entirely. While, usually, this is a good idea, if you make sensible choices, there is no reason to feel guilty for visiting a drive through one or two times a month. Once in a while, allowing someone else cook dinner is just what you require. There isn’t any reason to feel bad about visiting the drive through when you make healthy and balanced decisions!

We hope you got benefit from reading it, now let’s go back to queso taco pasta bake recipe. To make queso taco pasta bake you need 17 ingredients and 12 steps. Here is how you cook it.

The ingredients needed to cook Queso Taco Pasta Bake:
  1. Take 8 oz. pasta (I used Radiatore, but any small shape works)
  2. Take 2 tbsp. olive oil, divided
  3. You need 1/2 onion, diced
  4. Provide 2 cloves garlic, minced
  5. Use 1/2 lb. ground beef
  6. You need 1 cup black beans (I used canned, drained and rinsed)
  7. You need 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
  8. You need 1/2 tsp. chili powder
  9. Prepare 1 tsp. cumin
  10. Use to taste salt and pepper
  11. Take pinch cayenne pepper
  12. Get 4 tbsp. unsalted butter
  13. Provide 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  14. Provide 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
  15. You need 2 1/2 cups shredded cheese, divided (I use a mix of cheddars)
  16. Provide 1/2 cup salsa (I used mild, but medium or hot would be good)
  17. Take chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions to make Queso Taco Pasta Bake:
  1. Fill a large pot with water and add 1 tbsp. of olive oil. Place on burner with the heat on high and bring to a boil. At the same time, heat the remaining tbsp. of olive oil in a large skillet.
  2. Once water reaches a boil, add your pasta and cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally. About the same time, add the onions to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally until translucent.
  3. Add the garlic to the skillet next and cook another minute or so, until fragrant. Then add the ground beef and cook until completely brown. Drain any excess grease, if needed.
  4. About this time, the pasta should be done. Drain the pasta and return to the pot, removed from the heat.
  5. Add the black beans and diced tomatoes to the skillet with the beef. Next stir in the seasonings. Remove from heat and scrape the meat and bean mix into the pot with the pasta. Stir lightly to mix.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an oven proof casserole dish and set aside.
  7. For the queso: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter on medium heat. Once melted, add the flour a little at a time, whisking constantly as you add it to form a roux. Once all flour is added, allow the roux to simmer for 1 minute, whisking constantly.
  8. Increase the heat to medium high and slowly begin to whisk in the broth, adding it slowly. Once all the broth is incorporated, allow to come to a simmer. Let simmer, whisking occasionally for 3-4 minutes, until thickened.
  9. Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese. Once it's all melted in, stir in the salsa.
  10. Stir the queso cheese sauce into the pot with the pasta and meat mix and stir to combine. Pour into the prepared casserole dish and top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese.
  11. Bake for 5 minutes, then set the oven to broil and broil for 3-5 minutes, until the cheese begins to turn golden and bubbly.
  12. Garnish with the chopped cilantro if desired. Refrigerate any leftovers.

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