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overhead picture of pasta in a skillet

Rotel Pasta

This quick and easy creamy Rotel Pasta is perfect for a busy night!
4 from 2 votes
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Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 811kcal
Author: Jennifer Stewart

Ingredients

  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • ½ cup reserved pasta water
  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ medium onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 10 oz Rotel
  • 4 ounces cream cheese cubed
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheese Mexican blend is best but use whatever
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to package directions and drain. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water for later.
  • In a large skillet crumble the Italian sausage and cook over medium heat until no longer pink.
  • Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Remove excess fat from pan.
  • Add the 2 tablespoons butter and diced onion. Cook until onion starts to soften. Add in minced garlic, stir and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  • Sprinkle in the 2 tablespoons of flour. Stir and cook for a minute to remove the raw flour taste. Pour in heavy cream, half and half, and both cans Rotel.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes.
  • Stir in the spices, cream cheese, and shredded cheese. Cook while stirring until the cream cheese and shredded cheese is melted.
  • Add the cooked sausage and pasta to the skillet. Stir to combine everything.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve.

Notes

  • Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water for maximum flavor.
  • If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with some pasta water while it's still in the skillet.
  • Swap with chicken for a Rotel Chicken Spaghetti Recipe!
  • If you want to sneak in extra veggies, try using green bell peppers! They blend well with the Rotel tomato mixture, and you won’t even know they’re there. 
  • Not a fan of spicy? Try creating your own mild rotel mixture! This allows you to control the amount of green chilies that are in it, so you can add a little bit or a lot. 
  • Leftover chicken tastes amazing in this cheesy sauce, so I recommend trying it at least once. 
  • Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 811kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 60g | Saturated Fat: 31g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 28g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 159mg | Sodium: 1231mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g