Skillet-baked Tex Mex Macaroni

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder
• 1 lb lean ground beef (90 percent lean)
• 2 cups water
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 8 ounces elbow macaroni
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 (4 1/2 ounce) can chopped green chilies
• 8 ounces shredded mexican cheese, blend
• salt
• pepper
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

Recipe

• 1 adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 475 degrees.
• 2 heat oil in large ovensafe nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
• 3 add onion and bell pepper and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes.
• 4 stir in garlic, chili powder, and cayenne and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• 5 stir in beef, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, and cook until no longer pink, about 1 minute.
• 6 stir in water, tomato sauce, and pasta.
• 7 cover and increase heat to med-high, and cook at vigorous simmer, stirring often, until pasta is tender, 9-12 minutes.
• 8 off heat, stir in corn, chiles, and 1 cup cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• 9 sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese evenly over top.
• 10 transfer skillet to oven and bake until cheese has melted and browned, 10-15 minutes.
• 11 sprinkle with cilantro and serve.