Beefy Shell & Cheese

Submitted by children from A to Z

"This is from Simple & Delicious. Very kid friendly and tasty."

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 (12 ounce) package macaroni shells and cheese, dinner
• 2 cups water
• 1 1⁄4 cups salsa
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 -2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt

directions

1. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.
2. Set aside cheese sauce packet from dinner mix.
3. Add shells and water to skillet.
4. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer for 10-12 minute or until pasta is tender.
5. Stir in the salsa, beans, chili powder, salt and contents of cheese sauce packet.
6. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 5 minute.

Reviews

[*Parsley*]

Very good and very easy! I used the 1 tsp of chili powder and added 1 tsp of cumin, too. I added chopped onion to the beef. I found that after the salsa and beans were added, it wasn't as cheesey as I would have liked it. I then threw in a handful of shredded cheddar cheese and a splash or so of milk, and that helped it a lot. Thanx for a great kid-pleaser!

 

[juli_abalos]

This was excellent. I used pico de gallo instead of salsa so I wouldn't have to drain it, and I needed an extra pouch of cheese sauce to make it cheesy enough (which I happened to have) I only used a 1/2 tsp chili powder to keep it from being "too spicy" for the kids. I think maybe I might add some cumin, but as it was it was awesome. All the kids asked me to put this into regular dinner rotation. That's always a huge plus!! Thanks for a great change to boxed shells 'n cheese!

 

[Patti T.]

I'm not crazy about Shells n Cheese so that didn't sit well with me. My daughter doesn't like anything she "thinks is hot" added to her food. She THOUGHT the salsa was hot <br/>but it wasn't!! ? My hubby loved it; absolutely loved it!! I wish I'd added "hot salsa" or "Rotel" to it for him. I used shell macaroni & Velveeta Cheese vs the boxed dinner. In order to make it creamy enough, I drained juice off the Salsa & some tomatoes while melting cheese. A can of Cheddar Cheese Soup would've worked perfect but I was out. As easy as this was to make & please Hubby, I'll take some plain shells n cheese out for my daughter & add the heat to hubby's next time! ?

 

[55tbird]

I really like this. I used fresh made pico de gallo for half of the salsa and Cookwell & Company Escabeche Style salsa for the other half.