Description
Mac and cheese made festive with tasty Mexican flavors. An easy meal-in-one that the whole family will love!
Ingredients
- 1 pound large elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped bell pepper (red, green and/or yellow)
- 1/2 cup chopped red or white onion
- 1 (10 ounce) can chopped tomatoes with green chiles (I used Rotel)
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning mix
- 1 (10 ounce) can red enchilada sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2–1/2 cups shredded mexi-blend cheese
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- If baking, preheat oven to 450°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large pot, cook the macaroni to al dente according to package directions and drain. Return to large pot.
- Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the chopped bell pepper and onion and cook until onions become translucent. Stir in can of tomatoes with green chiles. Saute for another 3 minutes. Add pepper mixture to pot with cooked macaroni.
- Add the ground turkey to the hot skillet and break up the meat with a spoon. Cook until meat is cooked all the way through, 4-5 minutes. Drain grease off meat, if necessary, and return to skillet. Add taco seasoning mix and stir until turkey is completely coated in seasoning. Add cooked turkey to pot with cooked macaroni and pepper mixture.
- Pour enchilada sauce over everything in the pot and stir gently to coat.
- Add butter to hot skillet. Once butter is melted, whisk in flour until a thick mixture forms. Turn heat to medium low and add milk, whisking constantly until mixture starts to thicken. Add 2 cups cheese and stir until cheese is melted. Season cheese sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour cheese sauce over the macaroni mixture in the large pot. Serve immediately or transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and starting to brown and crisp on top. Let set for about 5 minutes before serving.