Tex Mex Shells N Cheese Recipes

ONE-SKILLET TEX MEX MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• To a large skillet, add the olive oil, onion, beef, and cook over medium-high heat until beef is cooked through and onion is soft and translucent, about 7 minutes; crumble beef and stir frequently to ensure even cooking.
• Add the bell pepper, corn, macaroni, water, tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, pepper, stir to combine.
• Lower heat to medium low, cover, and allow mixture to simmer for about 20 minutes, or until pasta is tender and cooked through. Stir a couple times while simmering to ensure even cooking.
• Uncover, turn off the heat, add the cheese, and stir to combine and until melted. Taste and check for seasoning balance. If necessary add more salt or seasonings (I added an additional 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon of cumin).
• Evenly sprinkle the cilantro and serve immediately.

FIESTA MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the macaroni in the boiling water until just undercooked. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the red onion and corn and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onion turns golden brown and the corn begins to blister, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the green chiles to combine. Set aside.
• To make the sauce, melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour, whisking to combine. Let the roux cook for a minute or so, whisking constantly. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly, followed by 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook the white sauce until thick and bubbly, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the half-and-half and adobo sauce. Add the processed cheese, 1 cup of the Monterey Jack and 1 cup of the pepper jack and continue to cook, stirring, until the cheese all melts. Add the cooked macaroni and stir to coat. Fold in the diced tomatoes and chiles.
• Butter a 9-by-13-inch disposable foil pan. Layer with half of the macaroni mixture, then half the corn mixture. Repeat the layers, ending with the corn mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup Monterey Jack and 1 cup pepper jack over the top. Sprinkle the crushed tortilla chips all over the cheese, then sprinkle with chili powder.
• To bake immediately, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake until bubbly and hot, 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle over the chopped cilantro and serve.
• To freeze the casserole for later, let cool completely, then cover with aluminum foil, fold over the edges to seal and freeze.
• If cooking from frozen, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook, covered, for 50 minutes, then uncover and bake until light brown and bubbly, about another 20 minutes. Sprinkle over the chopped cilantro and serve.

TACO SHELLS AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, crumbling it with a wooden spoon, until browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika. Stir in the diced tomatoes and chiles, hot water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens, 2 to 3 minutes, then remove to a bowl (it will still be a little juicy).
• In the same pan over medium heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the milk and cook until hot and bubbling. Add the processed cheese and cook, stirring, until melted. Do the same with the Cheddar jack. Pour in the cooked pasta, add the taco meat and stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning, thinning with a splash of milk if needed. Stir in the cilantro.
• Top each serving with some sour cream and salsa if desired.

HARD-SHELL TEX-MEX TACO

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat; add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the cayenne, chile powder, cumin and Mexican oregano and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the beef and cook until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce and apple cider vinegar and cook until the sauce reduces slightly, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Build the tacos in this order: cheese on the bottom, followed by the beef, tomatoes, avocados, lettuce and jalapenos. Serve the sour cream on the taco or on the side for dipping.

TEX MEX SHELLS 'N CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare shells & cheese according to directions on box.
• While waiting for the shells to boil, dice bacon, onion, and peppers. Place them in a skillet and saute till bacon is fully cooked.
• Once shells & cheese are prepared, combine bacon mixture and shells & cheese making sure to stir well. Let sit for a couple of minutes to let flavor marinate together, then serve and enjoy.

MEXICAN STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• In a frying pan cook ground beef; add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Add cream cheese, cover and simmer until cheese is melted. Blend well. Set aside and cool completely.
• While the ground beef is cooking, cook the pasta shells according to directions; drain. Set shells out individually on baking sheet so that they don't stick together.
• Pour salsa on bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Stuff each shell with the meat mixture placing shells in dish open side up. Cover shells with taco sauce. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, add shredded cheese and crushed tortilla chips; bake for 10-15 more minutes, with the foil removed. Top with green onions and serve with sour cream and/or more salsa.