Description
Enjoy a creamy and flavorful Rotel pasta made with rotini, zesty diced tomatoes with green chilies, and melted cheddar cheese. This quick and easy dish is perfect for cozy dinners or impressing guests, and can be customized with your choice of proteins or vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces of rotini pasta
- 1 can (10 ounces) of diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 cup of heavy cream
- 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup of cooked and crumbled sausage (optional)
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
- Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions (8-10 minutes) until al dente. Stir gently to prevent sticking.
- Drain the pasta in a colander and reserve a cup of pasta water if needed.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. If using sausage, add it now and cook until browned (5-7 minutes).
- Add the diced tomatoes with green chilies to the skillet and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine.
- Add garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. Simmer for another 3-5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Fold the cooked rotini pasta into the creamy sauce until well coated.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Add cayenne or red pepper flakes for extra heat if desired.
- If the sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- Remove from heat and let sit for a minute to thicken.
- Serve in bowls or on plates, garnished with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired.
- Enjoy your creamy Rotel pasta!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of milk or cream to restore creaminess.
Notes
- This dish can be customized with your favorite proteins or vegetables.
- For a vegetarian version, simply omit the sausage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes