Description
Comfort meets flavor in this loaded cheddar ranch beef and sweet corn rotini bake, combining hearty ingredients for a satisfying meal. Creamy cheese, zesty ranch, and tender beef meld perfectly, promising a delightful dinner that will become your new family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 12 ounces (340 grams) rotini pasta
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can sweet corn, drained
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 packet (1 ounce/28 grams) ranch seasoning mix
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little spice)
Creamy and Crunchy Components:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 (10.5 ounces/298 grams) can cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken)
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup crispy fried onions or crushed Ritz crackers (for crunch)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill a generously sized pot with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a rolling boil.
- Cook rotini pasta until perfectly tender, following the package guidelines, then thoroughly drain and set aside.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over robust heat.
- Introduce ground beef to the skillet, seasoning comprehensively with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika, browning thoroughly for 5-7 minutes.
- Eliminate any accumulated fat from the meat.
- Reduce flame to minimal and incorporate ranch seasoning, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and milk, creating a creamy foundation.
- Fold in sweet corn kernels and one portion of shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until smoothly integrated.
- Activate oven to 375F (190C) for preheating.
- Merge cooked rotini with beef mixture, ensuring uniform coating throughout the pasta.
- Transfer the combined mixture to a prepared baking vessel, spreading evenly.
- Lavishly distribute remaining cheddar cheese across the top surface.
- Shield with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to meld flavors.
- Remove foil, embellish with crispy fried onions or crushed crackers, and return to oven for an additional 5-7 minutes until achieving golden, effervescent perfection.
- Allow brief resting period, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Pasta Selection: Choose whole wheat or gluten-free rotini for dietary alternatives that maintain the dish’s hearty texture and flavor profile.
- Meat Customization: Swap ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for lighter protein options that reduce calories and fat content.
- Vegetable Enhancement: Add extra vegetables like diced bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach to boost nutritional value and create more complex flavor layers.
- Dairy-Free Adaptation: Replace dairy ingredients with cashew cream, dairy-free cheese alternatives, and non-dairy milk to accommodate lactose-intolerant or vegan dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg