6ouncespepper jack cheese***shredded ( about 1 and 1/2 cups, can use reduced fat or regular)
salt to taste
pepper to taste
chopped fresh cilantrofor garnish (optional)
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package instructions, until al dente. Drain pasta but reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Return drained pasta to pot and set aside.
While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium high heat. When hot, add the diced onion and bell peppers. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft and golden, about 8 minutes.
Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the beans and corn, cook until heated through, about 1 minute.
Add the cooked chicken and the taco seasoning. Stir until everything is combined and coated with the taco seasoning. Pour in salsa and stir to combine. If the mixture is too dry, add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water.
Pour the entire chicken mixture into the pot containing the pasta. Add the shredded cheese and stir to combine, until cheese is melted and fully mixed in.
Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
Garnish with chopped cilantro if desired and serve.
Notes
The cooking time is actually pretty fast, so be sure all of your ingredients are prepared before you start! * If using store bought taco seasoning, be aware that it might be higher sodium, so be careful about how much salt you add to the dish, if any. ** To save time, I used a store bought rotisserie chicken ***You can also use monterey jack cheese if you prefer the dish to be less spicy.