An easy Southwestern Velveeta Rotel Mac n Cheese that is absolutely delish. This grown-up recipe for macaroni and cheese with Rotel is creamy, cheesy and a little spicy.
Macaroni and Cheese is an classic American comfort food. There are so many difference spins on mac and cheese but this Southwestern Mac N’ Cheese is one of our favorites. We make our Mac n Cheese with Rotel and that adds a little spice and extra flavor to this family fave.
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Macaroni and cheese can be served as a side dish or a meatless main dish. And this Southwestern mac n cheese pairs with Texas BBQ or as much craved dish for any pot luck dinner. But we are sure it will become one of your family’s favorite recipes.
What is Rotel:
“The original Texas family recipe – made with a signature blend of vine-ripened tomatoes and zesty green chilies and a savory mixture of secret spices” (per the Rotel Website)
Origin of Rotel: In 1943 Carl Roettele and his wife open a small canning plant in Elsa, Texas, processing over 25 thousand cases of vegetables a year. Their proudest product was their canned tomatoes and green chilies. But they worried people couldn’t spell or pronounce “Roettele, so Carl used the name RO*TEL
Shipping was limited to Texas and Oklahoma but in 1963 Lady Bird Johnson shared her secret ingredient, Rotel in her Pedernales Chili recipe published in The Washington Post. After that Rotel expanded across the United States due to popular demand
And because the original RO*TEL Whole and Diced varieties proved to be so popular, Hot and Mild were added to the product line, along with Mexican.
Ways to use Rotel:
Rotel is canned diced tomatoes with chunks of green chile and has a zesty flavor. You can substitute or add Rotel for any recipe that uses canned tomatoes. We always have a few cans in the pantry.
Rotel Macaroni and Cheese Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- ½ pound Velveeta, cubed
- 1 10-ounce can Rotel, drained
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni, prepared
- ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Equipment Needed:
- 3 Quart Baking Pan
- Saucepan
How to make Velveeta Rotel Mac and Cheese:
Preheat your oven to 350° F and grease a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the flour and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the mixture begins to bubble.
Add the milk to the saucepan and whisk until everything is just combined. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue cooking until thickened, around three minutes.
Remove your pan from the heat and add the cubes of Velveeta. Stir until melted all the velveeta cheese is melted and combined.
Add the Rotel and the cooked pasta and gently stir to combine.
Pour the mac n cheese into the prepared 3 quart baking dish and spread evenly.
Sprinkle the shredded sharp cheddar cheese on top of the velveeta macaroni and cheese and place in the preheated oven.
Bake for 30 minutes until the cheese on top is melted. Serve this dish of Velveeta Mac N Cheese and enjoy!
Other Pasta Recipes:
- Individual Manicotti
- Rich Fettuccini Alfredo with Heavy Cream
- Pasta Primavera
- Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Chicken Alfredo Baked Ziti
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Rotel Macaroni and Cheese
Equipment
- 3 Quart Baking Pan
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- ½ pound Velveeta cubed
- 1 10 ounce can Rotel drained
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni prepared
- ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350° F and grease a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the flour and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the mixture begins to bubble.
- Add the milk to the saucepan and whisk until everything is just combined. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue cooking until thickened, around three minutes.
- Remove your pan from the heat and add the cubes of Velveeta. Stir until melted all the velveeta cheese is melted and combined.
- Add the Rotel and the cooked pasta and gently stir to combine. Pour the mac n cheese into the prepared 3 quart baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle the shredded sharp cheddar cheese on top of the velveeta macaroni and cheese and place in the preheated oven.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until the cheese on top is melted. Serve this dish of Velveeta Mac N Cheese and enjoy!
Nutrition
