One-Skillet Fiesta

Connect with your family over this comfort food: Tex-Mex Macaroni Casserole.

Fall is a busy time for parents. There’s driving kids to and from after-school activities and checking their homework. Volunteering in their classes and attending PTA meetings (not to mention the approaching holidays).

If you find yourself reaching for ready-made meals or takeout on hectic nights, try this kid-friendly, south-of-the-border casserole instead. All of the ingredients, from the whole grain elbow macaroni to the ground beef, are cooked in one skillet or pot, meaning minimal cleanup and maximum quality time spent connecting around the dinner table.

“This simple, three-step recipe is perfect for busy weeknights because it’s quick, family-friendly and just as good reheated for leftovers,” said McCormick executive chef Kevan Vetter. He suggests using organic taco seasoning.

Pasta: The Skinny on Whole Grain vs. Regular

Regular pasta is made from refined flours, such as wheat flour. Its milling process makes the pasta’s texture finer, but strips the grain of its germ and bran. Whole-grain pasta is also made from flour, but the grain is not as processed and most of the germ and bran is retained.

In short, whole-grain pasta offers two to three times as much dietary fiber, more B vitamins and less calories than regular pasta. Whole-grain pasta provides disease-fighting antioxidants not found in fruits and vegetables. And according to the Whole Grains Council, a nonprofit consumer group, people who eat whole grains regularly have a lower risk of obesity, as measured by their body mass index and waist-to-hip ratios. They also have lower cholesterol levels.

It used to be that whole-wheat pastas were hard to find and generally didn’t taste very good. Today, there are more choices for appetizing whole-wheat pastas. Companies that make the whole-grain elbow macaroni called for in this recipe include DeLallo, Hodgson Mill, Mueller’s and Barilla.

For more one-dish meals, visit McCormick.com.