We like all sorts of Mac & Cheese and this Southwest Mac & Cheese is delicious! It’s a little spicy, but packs tons of flavor! It’s a great way to incorporate a meatless meal into your menu!
I had a sweet potato that needed to get used up as well as black beans so my daughter requested this meal. It’s easy to prepare and in 30 minutes dinner was ready! Perfect for those busy nights!
Since we are doing the no grocery shopping challenge, we are getting limited on ingredients so this was something we could make with ingredients on hand and it’s an affordable meal to make! It cost me $10.02 for the entire meal, which is $1.67 per serving. We also had toasted bread with our meal. It was all so yummy!
Let’s get started!
Set pasta to cook. Peel and chop a sweet potato or yam, an onion and a jalapeno. My daughter grew jalapenos and got so many! Some turned red, so I’m using a red jalapeno.
In a skillet, in 2 tbsp butter, add the sweet potato, onion and jalapeno.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper and southwest seasoning. Cook until sweet potato is almost tender.
Add zucchini.
Stir well. Add a splash of water and cover skillet for zucchini to steam, about 8 minutes.
Smells delicious! Taste for seasonings and add more if need be. Once veggies are tender we are ready to finish off this part of our meal!
Add black beans.
Stir well.
Add tomato paste or sauce, and salsa.
Stir well. I added a splash of water too.
When pasta is cooked, drain and toss back into pot. Add butter. I also add cheese whiz and milk to make the pasta creamy but you could use velveeta or extra shredded cheese instead. Sprinkle with cheese and place lid on until beans and veggies are cooked.
You can either dump the beans and veggies into the pasta and stir it altogether or serve on top like we did. Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream or plain yogurt if you like. You could also sprinkle with green onion or chives.
Southwest Mac & Cheese
3 cups pasta
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp cheez whiz or velveeta
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded cheese
1 sweet potato or yam
1 small onion, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
1 tbsp southwest seasoning
1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt
Sprinkle black pepper
1 cup shredded zucchini
2 – 398ml cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup tomato paste or tomato sauce
1/2 cup salsa
Cook pasta according to package directions. Once cooked, drain and return to pot. Add butter, cheez whiz and milk. Stir well. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and let sit until the beans & veggies are ready.
In a skillet, in 2 tbsp butter, add the sweet potato, onion and jalapeno. Sprinkle with southwest seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook until almost tender. Add zucchini and a splash of water. Cover and let steam, about 8 minutes. Add beans. Stir. Add salsa and tomato paste or sauce. Stir well. Taste for seasonings. Let cook about 5 minutes.
You can either dump the beans and veggies into the pasta and stir it altogether or serve on top like we did. Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream or plain yogurt if you like. You could also sprinkle with green onion or chives.
enjoy from Our City Homestead to yours