RECIPES

Taco Macaroni and Cheese Bake

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This baked mac and cheese combines spicy pepper jack, cheddar and cream cheese with ground beef and fresh vegetables to give you all the flavor of your favorite taco in a bowl.

Wisconsin Cheese Taco Macaroni and Cheese Bake Recipe

Active Time

35 Minutes

Servings

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) uncooked cavatappi pasta
1 pound ground beef (90% lean)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can (15.25 ounces) whole kernel corn, undrained
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chiles, undrained
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1 package (8 ounces) Crystal Farms Original Cream Cheese, cut into small cubes
8 ounces Henning's Aged Cheddar cheese, shredded and divided (2 cups)
8 ounces Henning's Pepper Jack cheese, shredded and divided (2 cups)
Sour cream and chopped green onions

Cheese

Look for the Proudly Wisconsin Badge when shopping for cheese. Any brand of Wisconsin Cheddar, Cream Cheese or Monterey Jack can be used in this recipe.

Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F.
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente; drain.
Meanwhile, cook beef with onion in a Dutch oven over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in garlic and taco seasoning. Add the corn, tomatoes, beans, tomato sauce, green chiles, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Add cream cheese, stirring until smooth. Gradually stir in 1 cup cheddar and 1 cup pepper jack until melted. Remove from the heat. Stir in pasta.
Spoon pasta mixture into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar and pepper jack. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and cheeses are melted. Let stand for 5 minutes. Garnish with sour cream and green onions.

Recipe Tip

Make-ahead tip: The bake could be prepared a day ahead. Cool; cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator 40 minutes before baking. Bake dish as directed.

Cheesemonger Tip

Do you have questions when shopping for cheese? Ask the cheesemonger! A cheesemonger specializes in the buying and selling of high-quality cheese, usually available in the specialty section of a grocery store or cheese shop. Knowledgeable and passionate, a cheesemonger is a go-to resource for cheese varieties and pairings, proper cheese storage and handling, its cooking applications and cheese brand information.

Flecked with chopped chilies, pepper jack is a blend of mild monterey jack cheese with, typically, green and red jalapeño peppers. The peppers give the cheese a spicy kick, and the level of heat varies by the brand.

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