Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta & Campfire Casserole Recipes

Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta

A dish perfect for any season, but when schools back in session and extra curriculars are taking up your evenings, 20 minutes start to finish is hard to beat!

Ingredients to serve 4:

  • 8oz uncooked pasta

  • 1lb Red Door Ranch ground beef

  • 1 tbsp chili powder

  • 1tsp cumin

  • 1tsp paprika

  • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 can diced tomatoes & chiles

  • 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

  • salt & pepper

  • Option to add in scallions & cilantro

Instructions:

  1. Boil a salted pot of water and cook pasta according to directions on package.

  2. Prep ingredients and begin browning ground beef at medium-high in the skillet with spices.

  3. Add red pepper into skillet once ground beef starts to brown and has been broken up. Continue to cook until ground beef is cooked through.

  4. Add tomatoes, cheese and cream and cook for a few more minutes.

  5. Drain the pasta and stir into the sauce.

  6. Garnish as desired.

You can watch Chef Connie from Rude Awakening TV make this dish here on page 14-15 of the online magazine.


Campfire Casserole

With a handful of summer nights still ahead, here’s a hearty little meal that can be cooked over an open flame and enjoyed, dish free in the comfort of your lawn chair.

Adapted from Miranda Lambert’s new “Ya’ll Eat Yet?” cookbook.

Ingredients for 1-2 Servings:

  • olive oil

  • 1 medium potato, cut into cubes

  • 2 large carrots chopped or 6 baby carrotts

  • 1 small yellow onion, sliced thin

  • 1/3lb Red Door Ranch ground beef or pork

  • 1/2 tsp salt & pepper

  • Ketchup for serving

  • Optional add ins: corn on the cob, 1/4 cup sliced mushroom, 1/4 cup sliced zucchini

  • Industrial aluminum foil





Instructions:

  1. Prepare a fire large enough to cover the number of packets you want to cook.

  2. Lay out aluminum foil and spray/brush with oil - a big enough piece to hold your ingredients

  3. Lay the potatoes and vegetables down the middle of the foil.

  4. Crumble the beef/pork over the veggies and sprinkle with salt & pepper

  5. Fold the foil up, edge to edge, then fold both edges together at the top to seal. Do the same with the ends to make a leak proof packet.

  6. Once the fire has burned down to the coals, shovel the coals back and place the packets in the firepit, then shovel the coals back over the packets. Cook the packets for approx 35 minutes.

  7. Psst you can also cook at 350F oven or covered BBQ for 45min to 1 hour.

  8. Once cooked, brush off the ashes, open up your pack and enjoy! Add some ketchup if you like that.

  9. Foil can be tossed into the trash, no mess for Mom.







Stephanie Leahy