Southwest Chili Con Queso Pasta Bake!

 The original recipe is from Rachael Ray. I tweaked mine a little bit to my liking! :) This is a VERY hearty meal! Easily could feed 5-6 people or more. 

Yum right?! Here's the recipe...

1 pound penne rigate 
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 tablespoon ground cumin 

2 tablespoons chili powder 
Coarse black pepper
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3-5 garlic cloves, chopped 
1 jalepeño (I omited this)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (2 palmfuls)
2 cups milk
3/4 pound cheddar cheese (about 2 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves (a generous handful), chopped
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves (a few handfuls) chopped
1 14-ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Salt the boiling water and cook the pasta until slightly undercooked--a little chewy at the center.

While the water is coming to a boil, preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the hamburger.  When the hamburger is almost finished, but still a little pink, throw in the garlic, jalepeño, and onions and finish cooking until the burger is browned and the onion is translucent.  Drain the grease from the skillet and mix in the cumin, coriander and chili powder.  Take off the heat or turn heat down low.

In a medium sauce pot (and you can do this while you're browning the hamburger), melt the butter and add the flour to it.  Cook for 1 to 2 minutes over moderate heat and then whisk in the milk. When the milk comes to a bubble, stir in the cheese, cilantro and parsley with a wooden spoon.  When the cheese has melted, stir in the tomatoes.

(Doesn't that cheesey goodness look devine?)

I completely forgot to add my tomatoes at this step, So don't forget. I just added at the end! 

Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it back into the large pot.  Add the contents of the hamburger and all of the Cheddar sauce, and stir to combine.  

Transfer to a baking dish, sprinkle with a bit more cheese if you wish, and place under the broiler to lightly brown.

I baked it for about 15-20 minutes, Or until your cheese on top is bubbly! Then EAT!