TEXAS CHILI PASTA BAKE

Texas Chili Pasta Bake image

It'll be easy to round up your crew come dinnertime when this hearty casserole is on the table. Mix it up with the variation below and enjoy it your way.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories Entree

Time 1h15m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

3 cups uncooked cavatappi or other spiral pasta (8 oz)
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ chili seasoning mix
1 can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes, drained
1 can (10 oz) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
1 can (16 oz) chili beans with sauce
1 1/2 cups water
1 can (2.8 oz) French-fried onions
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
6 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

Steps:

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package, using minimum cook time.
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef and bell pepper over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked and bell pepper is crisp-tender; drain.
Stir in chili seasoning mix, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, beans and water. Reduce heat to medium; simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Add pasta, two-thirds of the French-fried onions and 1 cup of the cheese; stir gently. Spoon into baking dish.
Spray sheet of foil with cooking spray; place foil sprayed side down over baking dish. Bake 25 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining French-fried onions, the bacon and remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake 8 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Garnish with chopped green onions, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 560, Carbohydrate 45 g, Cholesterol 90 mg, Fat 1 1/2, Fiber 5 g, Protein 32 g, SaturatedFat 12 g, ServingSize 1 Serving (1 1/2 Cups), Sodium 1560 mg, Sugar 4 g, TransFat 2 g