Taco Pasta
Why I Love This Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
8 ounces dried penne pasta
2 pounds uncooked ground chicken (I would use lean ground beef myself)
1 cup chopped onion
1-1/2 cups water
1 1-1/4-ounce envelope taco seasoning mix
2 11-ounce cans whole kernel corn with sweet peppers, drained
2 cups sliced pitted ripe olives (this sounds like a lot to me, I would not use more than one of the larger cans)
2 cups ( 8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup salsa
2 4-ounce cans diced green chile peppers, drained
8 cups shredded lettuce
2 medium tomatoes, cut into thin wedges
Tortilla chips (optional)
Dairy sour cream (optional)
Directions
Cook pasta according to directions; drain and set aside. Meanwhile, in a 12-inch skillet cook ground meat and onion, half at a time, until meat is brown; drain fat. Return all of the meat mixture to skillet. Stir in water and taco seasoning mix. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cooked pasta, corn, olives, half of the shredded cheese, salsa, and chile peppers. Transfer mixture to a lightly greased 3-quart rectangular casserole. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 45 minutes or until heated through. Remove from oven; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Serve with lettuce, tomato wedges, and, if desired, tortilla chips and sour cream. Makes 12 servings. To Tote: Cover tightly. Transport in an insulated carrier. Transport lettuce, tomatoes, and, if desired, sour cream in an insulated cooler with ice packs. If desired, transport chips in an airtight bag or container. For 6 Servings: Prepare using method above, except transfer mixture to a 2-quart rectangular baking dish and bake for 30 minutes.
