Did anyone else grow up with at least 5 boxes of Hamburger Helper in their pantry? If you did, you will love this dairy-free Tex-Mex Mac and Cheese.
Some of my earliest meals came from Hamburger Helper, with Stroganoff being a favorite and one of the very first dinners I learned to cook. It inspired both of my Stroganoff recipes (Meals Made Simple, page 150, and Healthy in a Hurry, page 221).
Tex-Mex Mac & Cheese (dairy and grain-free!)
I’ve now also recreated their Creamy Nacho Pasta, using my “Skillet Queso”—a vegetable-based sauce. This beloved sauce is used a few times in my newest cookbook - Make It Easy - and this particular quick one pot pasta combines the queso with my Taco Seasoning, ground beef or turkey, pasta, and salsa. For a quicker option, use Siete’s queso and add the meat and seasoning!
The sauce is already made almost completely of vegetables, but to sneak in extra veggies and fiber for kids, add diced bell peppers, kale, or jicama. Layer them on top of the queso in the Instant Pot, and everything cooks together. A half avocado on top adds 7g of fiber as well!
If you loved my “Magic Meatball Pasta”, you must try my Instant Pot Tex Mex Mac & Cheese from Make It Easy on September 10!! It’s ready in just 5 minutes after reaching pressure.
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Dairy Free Tex-Mex Mac & Cheese
Servings 4 to 6
TOOLS
6-quart Instant Pot or Dutch Oven
Blender
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