Chili Con Queso Pasta

One of my least favorite things to do during the week is to slave over the stove to cook dinner after work. So I absolutely love meals that can be prepared in 1 hour or less during the work week. I recently purchased Rachael Ray's 365 No Repeat cookbook off of amazon and decided to try this Chili Con Queso pasta recipe. Simply put, if you're addicted to Chili Con Queso like I am, you will LOVE this dish! It's cheesy, spicy, meaty, and super easy to throw together for an easy midweek meal. I actually brought leftovers to work for lunch the next day and it tastes just as good.

Chili Con Queso Pasta

(Source: Rachel Ray)

1 Pound Dried Penne Pasta

1 1/2 Pounds Ground Beef

1 Tablespoon Dried Ground Cumin

1 Tablespoon Dried Ground Coriander

2 Tablespoons Dried Chili Powder

1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper

1 Large Yellow Onion, Chopped

4-6 Large Cloves Garlic, Chopped

1 Jalapeno Pepper, Seeded and Finely Chopped

2 Tablespoons Butter

2 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour

2 Cups Milk

2 1/2 Cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded

1/4 Cup Fresh Cilantro, Chopped

1 (14 Ounce) Can Fire Roasted Tomatoes

Preheat the broiler to high and position the rack 8 inches from the heat. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Salt the boiling water and cook the pasta al dente. While the water is coming to a boil, preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the hamburger.  When the hamburger is almost finished, but still a little pink, throw in the garlic, jalapeño, and onions and finish cooking until the burger is browned and the onion is translucent.  Drain the grease from the skillet and mix in the cumin, coriander and chili powder and pepper.  Take off the heat or turn heat down low. In a medium sauce pot (and you can do this while you're browning the hamburger), melt the butter and add the flour to it.  Cook for 1 to 2 minutes over moderate heat and then whisk in the milk. When the milk comes to a bubble, stir in the cheese, cilantro and parsley with a wooden spoon.  When the cheese has melted, stir in the tomatoes. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it back into the large pot.  Add the contents of the hamburger and all of the Cheddar sauce, and stir to combine.  Transfer to a baking dish, sprinkle with a bit more cheese if you wish, and place under the broiler to lightly brown.