Dutch Oven Tex Mex Recipes

TEX-MEX PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions., Meanwhile, cook beef in a Dutch oven over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the salsa, soup and 1/2 cup cheese; heat through. , Drain pasta; stir into meat mixture. Transfer to a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and bake until cheese is melted, 15-20 minutes.

MEXICAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Be sure to cook your rice if you haven't already (if you are just reading this and just now realized you don't have any cooked rice and don't want to wait, consider switching to quinoa, which cooks much more quickly than brown rice. Instant brown rice also works in a pinch).
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a large casserole dish (9x13 inch or similar) with nonstick spray and set aside.
• In a Dutch oven or large, deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high. Add the onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper. Sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the beef, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Continue to sauté until the beef is cooked through and no longer pink, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 1 additional minute.
• Remove from the heat. Stir in the rice and Greek yogurt until evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
• Assemble the casserole: Spread the beans into an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese over the beans.
• Scatter the tomatoes with green chilis over the top.
• Spoon the rice and ground beef mixture on top of the tomatoes, spreading it into an even layer.
• Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar and 1/2 cupmozzarella.
• Bake the casserole, uncovered, until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot, about 15 minutes.
• Turn the oven to broil, then continue cooking until the cheese is lightly browned, about 3 to 4 additional minutes, watching carefully so that the cheese does not burn.
• Let rest 5 minutes, sprinkle with chopped cilantro and green onions, and serve.

TEX-MEX CHICKEN AND CORN SOUP

Steps:

• Cut the corn kernels off the cobs and transfer to a small bowl. Run the back of your knife down the cobs to scrape any corn milk into the bowl (it will help thicken the soup). Set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the poblano, onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; cook, stirring, until the vegetables are browned in spots, about 6 minutes. Add the corn kernels and their milk. Stir in the chili powder and cook until toasted, about 1 minute. Stir in the chicken broth, 3 cups water, the tomatoes, hominy, chicken, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the broth is slightly reduced and the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with the chips and scallions.

ALL-PURPOSE TEX-MEX VEGGIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the corn, jalapenos, red onions and bell peppers.
• In a separate bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and crushed red pepper. Mix together with a fork.
• Heat half the oil in a very large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the veggies and sprinkle with half the seasoning. Cook until blackened bits start to appear, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet; repeat with the other half of the oil, veggies and seasoning. Return the first half of the veggies to the skillet and add the black beans and green chiles. Stir and continue cooking for 3 minutes. Use immediately or allow to cool, then package in smaller freezer bags or containers and freeze.
• To reheat, add 2 teaspoons or more of olive oil (depending on the quantity of vegetables) to a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the desired amount of frozen vegetables. Cook, stirring frequently, until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes. The veggies can be used in a number of ways. Here are some serving suggestions.
• For soft tacos: Lay a warmed fajita-size flour tortilla on a board. Pile on 1/4 cup cooked taco chicken, top with 2 tablespoons shredded iceberg, 1 tablespoon grated Cheddar and a big spoonful of the Tex-Mex veggies.
• For veggie taco salad: Slice 1/2 head each of iceberg and romaine. Mix and spread the lettuce out on a platter to make a bed for the salad. Arrange 1 cup of the Tex-Mex veggies all over the lettuce. Sprinkle over 1/4 cup cotija cheese, dot on 1/4 cup salsa, top with 2 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle over 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves.
• For quick quesadillas: Melt 2 tablespoons salted butter in a cast-iron skillet; add 1 burrito-size sun-dried tomato flour tortilla. Top with 1/4 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 cup of the Tex-Mex veggies, then a second tortilla. Cook for a minute, then flip and cook on the other side until the cheese is melted. Remove to a cutting board, cut into quarters and serve with 2 tablespoons pico de gallo, 2 tablespoons guacamole and a sprig of fresh cilantro.

TEX-MEX FRITTATA

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the broiler.
• In a 12-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet or a very well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes, garlic, onions, red and orange bell peppers and jalapeno to the skillet. Add the cumin and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring gently, until the veggies begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Arrange the veggies so that the potato slices are flat and in an even layer.
• Meanwhile, in a pitcher or bowl, whisk together the eggs, salsa and a pinch of salt. Stir in the grated pepper jack.
• Pour the egg mixture into the skillet, being careful to cover the veggies and get it around the edge of the skillet. Cook, undisturbed, until the eggs begin to set on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the broiler, using the middle rack, and cook until very lightly browned on top, about 5 minutes.
• Carefully slide the frittata onto a cutting board. Slice into 4 to 6 wedges. Garnish with the cherry tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and a dollop of sour cream.

TEX-MEX MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
• Meanwhile in 5-quart Dutch oven, cook beef over medium-high heat 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until brown; drain, and set aside. Add bell pepper, poblano chiles and onion to Dutch oven; cook 6 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions start to soften. Stir in beef, taco seasoning mix and water; heat to simmering. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened. Transfer to medium bowl; reserve.
• In 4-cup glass measuring cup, mix milk and cream. Return Dutch oven to low heat; melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in Dutch oven. With whisk, stir in flour and salt until smooth. Increase heat to medium-high; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk mixture. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute; reduce heat to medium. Stir in cheeses. Cook until melted, stirring occasionally. Stir pasta into cheese sauce. Remove from heat. Pour half of pasta mixture into baking dish. Top with meat mixture, then remaining pasta mixture.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are bubbly.
• Meanwhile, in 8-inch nonstick skillet, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in bread crumbs; toast 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until crumbs are golden brown. Sprinkle over pasta mixture; top with cilantro.

TEX-MEX POPCORN

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the popcorn kernels, oil and cumin seeds until oil begins to sizzle. Cover and shake for 2-3 minutes or until popcorn stops popping., Transfer to a large bowl; spritz with butter-flavored spray. Add remaining ingredients and toss to coat. Continue spritzing and tossing until popcorn is coated.

DUTCH OVEN TEX MEX

Steps:

• Brown meats with the veggies in the dutch oven.
• After meats are browned add the rice, rotel, beans, broth, seasonings, and chicken broth.
• Let it cook in the dutch oven for 30 minutes or so on medium heat.