Cheesy Taco Macaroni Bake

Hidden with vegetables such as onions, capicums, carrot & tomato! Top with sour cream, diced tomatoes & eschallots and guacamole. This is sure to be a hit with the whole family!

 Ingredients - Makes 8 serves

• 400g dried macaroni pasta

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 brown onion, finely chopped

• 1 red capsicum, deseeded, finely chopped

• 1 yellow capsicum, deseeded, finely chopped

• 2 small carrots, grated

• 500g beef mince

• 1x packet taco seasoning

• 375g jar mild thick and chunky salsa

• 150g cheddar cheese, grated

• Sour Cream to serve

• 125g cherry tomatoes, quartered

• 1 avocado, chopped

• 4 green eshallots stems, chopped

  For the cheese sauce

• 500ml milk

• 2 tbsp plain flour

• 60g butter

• 50g grated cheddar

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan forced. Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of salted boiling water following packet directions or until al dente. Drain & set aside.

2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and capsicum and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the carrot and half the diced tomatoes and stir for a further 5 minutes then set aside.

3. Add the beef to the pan on high heat and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up any lumps, for 5 minutes or until browned. Drain any excess fat.

4. Add the veggies back into the pan with the beef and add the taco seasoning and jar of salsa to the pan. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until well combined.

5. For the cheese sauce:

   On medium heat melt the butter and then stir in the flour to make a paste. Slowly add milk to mixture continuously stirring to remove any lumps. If you start to get lumps, use a whisk & whisk the mixture. Keep adding the milk in small lots until your mixture becomes thick and creamy, then add cheddar cheese until melted through.

6. Stir your cheese sauce through your macaroni. In a large oven safe dish, add your beef & veggies mixture to the bottom of the dish, top with the macaroni mixture and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.

7. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

8. Serve topped with sour cream, diced tomato, avocado and shallot.