READER REVIEWI’ve made this family-pleasing casserole for years. It’s bold, budget-friendly and, best of all, you get a second casserole to freeze.
—JOAN HALLFORD NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX
PREP: 15 MIN. • BAKE: 40 MIN. • MAKES: 2 CASSEROLES (6 SERVINGS EACH)
2 cups (8 ounces) uncooked elbow macaroni
2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, drained
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1. Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat, crumbling beef, until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in next eight ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Drain macaroni; stir into beef mixture.
2. Preheat oven to 375°. Transfer macaroni mixture to two greased 2-qt. baking dishes. Top with cheese and jalapenos. Cover and bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake until bubbly and heated through, about 10 minutes longer. Serve one casserole. Cool the second; cover and freeze up to 3 months.
TO USE FROZEN CASSEROLE Thaw in refrigerator 8 hours. Preheat oven to 375°. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in the center to read 165°, 20-25 minutes.
NOTE Wear disposable gloves when cutting hot peppers; the oils can burn skin. Avoid touching your face.
READER REVIEW
“This was delicious! I loved how simple it was to make and the jalapenos really added that extra kick of flavor.”
ANGEL182009 TASTEOFHOME.COM
Up to 80 percent of the capsaicin (the compound that gives peppers their heat) is in the seeds and membranes. To reduce the heat, cut the peppers in half, then use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and membranes. If you like very spicy foods, add a few of the seeds to the dish you’re making instead of discarding them.
