Tex-Mex Mac

Name: Tex-Mex Mac
Prep time: 1 h 5 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: ***For the mac:***; 3 cups mostaccioli or rigatoni pasta; 1 pound bulk pork sausage, links with casing removed or ground; 1 cup onion, chopped; 1 (16-ounce) jar green medium-hot salsa; 2 (8-ounce) packages Monterey Jack cheese, shredded; ***Optional, for topping:***; tomatoes, to taste, wedged; jalapeño peppers, to taste, sliced; fresh cilantro, to taste, chopped; salsa, to taste

Pork Dinner Stove-Top

Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Yield: 12 servings

$recipe image$

About

Ready for some taste bud-tingling trivia? The origins of this dish span from Italy to Mexico to the States. Did you guess Tex-Mex Casserole? You're right! This delectable dish blends together some of Italy's finest fluffy pasta, Mexico's most flavorful medium-hot salsa, and America's most beloved Monterey Jack cheese! Some spicy pork sausage is tossed in to create a heartiness that could fill many nations. Ding, ding, ding — making this gooey, cheesy, spicy Tex-Mex Mac will make you feel like a winner and that's not trivial!

Ingredients

For the mac:
3 cups mostaccioli or rigatoni pasta
1 pound bulk pork sausage, links with casing removed or ground
1 cup onion, chopped
1 (16-ounce) jar green medium-hot salsa
2 (8-ounce) packages Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
Optional, for topping:
tomatoes, to taste, wedged
jalapeño peppers, to taste, sliced
fresh cilantro, to taste, chopped
salsa, to taste

Directions

Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2 -Lightly grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish.

Step 3 -Cook the pasta to al dente, according to the package instructions.

Step 4 -Drain the pasta and set it aside.

Step 5 -While the pasta is cooking, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage and the onions, while crumbling the meat, until the sausage is brown and the onions are tender, about 7-10 minutes.

Step 6 -Drain the excess grease from the skillet.

Step 7 -Stir the 16-ounce jar of the green salsa into the meat mixture.

Step 8 -In the prepared baking dish, layer 1/2 of the cooked pasta, 1/2 of the meat mixture, and 1/2 of the cheese.

Step 9 -Repeat the layers.

Step 10 -Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, about 35 minutes.

Step 11 -Let the mac stand for 10 minutes.

Step 12 -Top with the tomato wedges, the sliced jalapeño peppers, and the chopped cilantro.

Step 13 -Serve with the extra salsa.

Explore More Favorites