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Cheesy Chili Beef Rigatoni is the perfect weeknight meal: warm pasta combined with beef, tomatoes, chilies, and fresh spinach, topped with Monterrey cheese. You just need two pots for this meal– one to cook the pasta in and one to make everything else. Easy clean up! 

When we were little, once in a while on a busy weeknight, my mom would make Hamburger Helper. Us kids LOVED it. The rule would be that my Dad would have to be out of town on a business trip– he grew up eating Hamburger Helper at least once a week, or more, he says. When he was little, he was in charge of cooking weeknight meals (which is probably why he’s such a good cook now). But he got so sick of it that he swore off never to eat it again as an adult, haha. 

This dish reminds me a lot of that beloved Hamburger Helper– except way better. No preservatives or thickeners or extra salt. Diced tomatoes, green chilies and fresh spinach add a healthier twist to the old favorite. The only seasonings in this dish are salt, pepper, and onion powder. The green chilies and Monterrey cheese add a whole level of spices by themselves. This dish held up really well in the fridge and tasted great for leftovers the next day. 

Here’s the recipe for Cheesy Chili Beef Rigatoni: 

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Cheesy Chili Beef Rigatoni

Cheesy Chili Beef Rigatoni is the perfect weeknight meal: warm pasta combined with beef, tomatoes, chilies, and fresh spinach, topped with Monterrey cheese. You just need two pots for this meal– one to cook the pasta in and one to make everything else. Easy clean up! 

Servings 6

Author Emily Weeks, RDN, LD

Ingredients

• 16 oz rigatoni pasta
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 Tbsp onion powder
• smoked sea salt cracked
• freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• 1 15- oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 6- oz can diced green chilies
• 1 8- oz can tomato sauce 8oz
• 3-4 cups spinach
• 1 cup of Monterrey cheese

Instructions

1. In a large pot, boil the rigatoni according to package directions, drain and set aside.

2. In a large pan over medium heat, add the olive oil, ground beef, onion powder. Brown the beef and season with smoked sea salt and pepper.

3. Add the diced tomatoes, green chilies, and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and let simmer for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.  Add the cooked pasta. 

4. Fold in the spinach until wilted, then add the cheese and stir until melted.