The South's ultimate staples, king ranch chicken and macaroni-and-cheese, collide in a skillet dinner that's ready in just 45 minutes. This best-of-both-worlds recipe will be a star winter weeknight meal.
½ (16-oz.) package cellentani pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 (10-oz.) can diced tomatoes and green chiles
1 (8-oz.) package pasteurized prepared cheese product, cubed
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 (10 ¾-oz.) can cream of chicken soup
½ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 ½ cups (6 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile, melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell pepper, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in tomatoes and green chiles and prepared cheese product; cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Stir in chicken, next 4 ingredients, and hot cooked pasta until blended. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 10-inch cast-iron skillet or 11- x 7-inch baking dish; sprinkle with shredded Cheddar cheese.
Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.
