Please welcome back Shane, who graciously agreed to share another great weeknight recipe with you today! Thanks Shane, love this post 🙂
Apparently my first guest post was well received enough that Tracey asked me to do another one! She’s been very busy lately between trying to stay on top of this blog as well as commuting to Boston four days a week, so I was more than happy to help out.
I’ve actually made this creamy taco mac recipe twice now in the past few weeks. The first time was the first week that Tracey was back commuting, and that was a little frantic due to my, shall we say, limited kitchen experience. There were a few tasks that I’ve seen done before (mincing garlic, chopping onions) but hadn’t actually done myself and had to figure out on the fly. I also didn’t do as great a job getting my mise en place 100% complete before starting, which may have led to a frazzled moment when I called Tracey at a critical juncture asking where we keep the taco seasoning. “Wait, I have to make it myself?!?” Fortunately, it all came together in the end (and the taco seasoning recipe makes enough for several meals worth).
I’m happy to report that the second time around, I had things much more under control. It really goes to show you how much easier cooking is once you’ve already done it once and can plan properly! Also, since I knew when making it the second time that I was going to write a guest post, I made sure to take process photos with my iPhone. I can’t take all the credit though…as promised/threatened in my last guest post, I had a little help getting the ingredients together:
Autobots and Decepticons working together? All in the name of an excellent meal!
As for the actual meal itself? I can assure you, both times I’ve made it so far it’s been a huge hit! Just the right amount of spice from the taco seasoning, creamy, and plenty of meat! I’ve already told Tracey that I am itching to have it again in the very near future; I’m hoping it’ll end up on the menu again sometime next week.
Well, that’s it for me until my next guest post. Transform and roll out!
Creamy Taco Mac
adapted from Delish via Annie’s Eats
8 oz (1/2 lb) pasta
1 1/4 lb ground turkey
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes, drained
4 tablespoons taco seasoning (recipe below)
3 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
Set a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground turkey. Brown, using a wooden spoon to break up the meat as you cook it. When the turkey is nearly cooked through, add the onion to the skillet and stir to incorporate. Once the turkey is completely browned, add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes and taco seasoning and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pasta, cream cheese, sour cream and reserved pasta water, stirring to incorporate and melt the cream cheese. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce has slightly reduced. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top each portion with shredded cheddar cheese before serving, if desired.
Taco Seasoning
originally from Mex Recipes (via Annie’s Eats and Use Real Butter)
4 tablespoons chili powder
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon paprika
3 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
In a medium bowl, mix all of the spices together. Transfer to an airtight container for storage.
[To use the seasoning to make tacos, combine 2 heaping tablespoons (in place of a package of taco seasoning) with 1 lb of beef or chicken and 1 cup of water. Simmer until the liquid is almost completely gone.]
Awesome! I love the fact that the Transformers are doing the work! Another great post.
Do you have any that can clean up after?
Great post, Shane! 😉
Lloyd would LOVE this dish- just manly enough and he loves mexican, just as long as it’s not spicy!
Awesome! Loved the way the transformers “helped” you put it together. Great job. And glad Tracey’s getting some nourishing meals waiting for her when she gets home.
I’ve made this recipe a few times too! So yummy, and a favorite in my home 🙂
This looks fantastic. We had tacos last night, I wonder if I can reuse the leftover meat and make this…going to try!
The pictures have already made my day feel a little special, and it’s almost 6am, so maybe I can take this as a good omen. Mac ‘ cheese looks nice too.
Omg, the Transformers cracked me up! So funny!
My husband loves this dish too. I’ll have to con him into making it one day now that I know it is, in fact, possible for a man to make pasta. 😉
Comfort food at it’s best! Looks great!
what great helpers you have! LOL, love this simple and delish recipe.
Way to put those Transformers to work! Hahaha 🙂
This dish looks great! A fantastic weeknight supper…yum!
Love the robot photos!
This recipe looks great…I’ve seen it on a couple blogs before and bookmarked it. I need to make it one of these days, it sounds so yummy!
Are those your toys..How CUTE! love it! can’t wait to try the dish! TY!!
Mandy
Great post and taco mac, Shane! I wonder if I could get my husband’s vintage Star Wars figurines to help with dinner sometime…
haha i loved this–impressed by his use of both action figures and the phrase “mise en place” in the same post!
I swear by the power of greyskull that has to be the best looking mac and cheese dish I’ve ever seen! (Sorry, I regressed a few additional years).
Great looking dish and great write up and pics!
I think Shane might need to start his own food blog. Tracey, your husband is adorable!! I’m forwarding to the boyfriend in hopes that he’ll be inspired to cook more often. 😉
Hahaha yess I love that the Transformers helped with dinner! And I love making my taco seasoning at home. I can reduce the sodium in it that way!
Shane-awesome post.
I love how you have transformers doing your work! When do autobots and decepticons work together-when a good meal is involved of course!
Shane, you are TOO funny!! Love the transformers. Glad you had some help with dinner.
haha, love the fun photos!
this looks delicious and easy!
I can’t stop cracking up after reading that. When I was scrolling down I saw the first transformer and I remembered you mentioned wanting to include them in your next post. But I didn’t expect to see a whole line up of transformers helping you every step of the way. That was awesome! Oh, and you and the autobots did a great job on the taco mac.
Great recipe ! I made this for my brother! It`s delicious!!!
Great job Shane! I love everything about your post, especially the Transformers!
And, the pasta looks delicious! I am definitely going to make this for dinner next week.
HOoray for husband posts :).
m
I can’t believe I never thought to make a taco pasta, this looks so good! 🙂
This recipes looks great. The pictures make it look so tasty! I love tacos, and can’t get enough of them. I’ve never tried a taco pasta before. It seems like a great way to enjoy the taco taste I love. Thanks so much
🙂
Another excellent post, Shane! I’m glad the action figures made an appearance this time. Josh would love this meal. I should have him make it some night when I have to work late. 🙂
LOVE these pics! Nothing is cooler than Transformers helping out in the kitchen!
this post is awesome! glad y’all like this. its one of our weeknight faves!
This sounds DELICIOUS! Yum!
I know I would love this dish. Just think how many kids would want this meal since the Transformers helped! Shane, great job!
It was a success! The family liked it, I loved it, and I sent some home with a neighbor- still waiting on his feedback ;D Overall though, it was so easy and made almost no mess to clean up- my kind of Sunday night meal!