Reviewed: Jun. 10, 2008

I made these as the recipe reads, and found it a touch bland. My kids LOVED it though. The second time I made them, I did make some changes, and with changes, I'd rate it much higher. My changes weren't that drastic, just a chopped onion, some Adobo and 3 cloves minced garlic cooked with the beef. Also a chopped green pepper added with the rest of the ingredients. Also, seasoned with salt and pepper as the recipe reads, but added crushed 1/4 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp mild chili powder, 1 tsp paprika. Was deee-lish!

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OvesPrincess

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Mar. 9, 2008

My family really enjoyed this meal. I did a bit different, though. I cooked the ground beef with a teaspoon of minced garlic and about a 1/3 of cup of onions. I, also, added the chili powder and cumin as suggested by others. I went a little further and added a can of chopped green chilies and replaced the tomatoes with 24 oz. of salsa. I used rotini, bacause I didn't have and macaroni noodles. After it was done I topped it with crushed tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, olives, and taco sauce. Then I added chopped cilantro as a final garnish. It was delicious and dissappeared quickly. Thanks for the great recipe. We will make this one a lot.

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christyk

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Rupert, Idaho, USA

Living In: Heyburn, Idaho, USA

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Reviewed: Mar. 9, 2008

Thanks to all the other reviewers for their great suggestions on improving this dish. I am not sure how I would have rated it had I done it as written. I added garlic and onion to the meat while frying and also added extra spices with everything else....a generous helping of chili powder helped the taste really stand out in this hearty casserole. I also cut way back on the pasta. Sour cream is a must to top.

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Cathy G.

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Living In: Thorold, Ontario, Canada

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Reviewed: Oct. 18, 2007

Quite simple to make, and very yummy. Everyone in my family enjoyed this. However, I think next time I'll add some taco seasoning or chili powder to give it a little more kick.

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MrsBernard

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Oct. 1, 2007

My husband loved it, so did I. I did added more ingredients to it, like the other comments had mention. I've added onions, green pepper, some cream cheese because I didn't have a lot of of cheddar cheese, minced garlic, cumin, & oregano.Instead of 16oz tomatoes, I only had 28oz diced tomatoes,also I used chili beans. I would make this again.

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Addy8/2

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Living In: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Reviewed: Apr. 11, 2007

Very interesting dish. It looked unappealing to say the least, but when mixed together, it had a really good flavor. I almost didn't even taste it based on appearances alone, but both sons (14 & 24) gave me a thumbs up, and I agreed it was indeed pretty darn good. I think the sour cream added that special something to it. I followed this exactly as written. Next time I would add some onion powder and maybe even diced green chiles. I kept the macaroni, cheese, and sour cream separate, and we built the "haystacks" on our own plates, so the macaroni amounts were not an issue for us. (Update: even the leftovers got eaten, so it was a family "hit". I orginally gave this 3 stars, but had to upgrade it to 4 for so many reasons...) Definitely will make this again.

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~TxCin~ILove2Ck

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

Living In: Corpus Christi, Texas, USA

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Reviewed: Oct. 24, 2006

We changed a bit as follows: browned 2lbs ground beef with 1/2 cup of chopped onion. Added the corn, 1 can black beans, 1 can rotel, and garlic powder. We then used Mexican-style shredded cheese for more flavor. Also, we reduced the pasta to 6 ounces. It was great. We ate it two nights in a row, then I took the rest to work for lunch.

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elt

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Oct. 7, 2006

Really nothing to brag about here as far as flavor. I thought it had too many noodles too. Won't make it again.

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bradshaw

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Aug. 31, 2006

This was a hit with my kids. I sometimes cook for our Wednesday nite get together at my daughter's home. I added 1 stalk celery chopped, 1/2 white onion chopped, 1 clove of garlic, minced, 1/2 cup of salsa, 1/4tsp celery salt,1/4tsp chili powder,just to give it a little more kick. Sour cream and cheddar cheese is a must.

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hOwArD h

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Living In: Denver, Colorado, USA

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Reviewed: Aug. 23, 2006

good and easy, but needs something to perk it up. will probably not make again

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SADIE2004

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Reviewed: Aug. 7, 2006

Simple and tasty this is a great hit with the men in my familly! I add a bit of extra shredded cheddar to the meat and beans while they're heating. I'm a pasta lover but this is WAY TOO MUCH pasta... I cut it in half!

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STARGIRL327

Cooking Level: Beginning

Home Town: Enfield, Connecticut, USA

Living In: Grafton, Massachusetts, USA

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Reviewed: Jul. 20, 2006

Quick easy and tasty . This is the second time I've made it. The first time I added a can of rotel tomatoes and the second time I didn't , next time I won't forget the rotel. Sure made a difference in taste. This recipe served 7 easily so it makes a lot and not a costly dish to prepare either.

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Vicki Lynn

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Duluth, Minnesota, USA

Living In: Hickory Creek, Texas, USA

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Reviewed: Dec. 9, 2005

I am on a increased fiber diet, and make this with the Barilla macaroni "plus" for added fiber, it is very tasty. I like that you can make it fast, and that it's easy. I think it's a lot better than regular American Chop Suey!

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Darlene O

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA

Living In: Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA

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Reviewed: Aug. 15, 2005

Thought it was great but needed a bit more heat.

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cadkins

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Reviewed: Mar. 2, 2005

We just thought this recipe was alright. It needs some taco seasoning or something to spice it up a bit.

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Lindsey C.

Cooking Level: Expert

Living In: Wheelersburg, Ohio, USA

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Reviewed: Dec. 27, 2004

I found this to be rather bland. My husband enjoyed it but I found it to be lacking something. I tried to spice it up a bit but nothing seemed to hit the spot. Interesting recipe, just not my style.

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Angie C

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Aug. 10, 2004

The reviews make this a better recipe than the original. I wouldn't rate it quite this high except for versatility. Added chili powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt, seasoned pepper and cumin. The basic recipe needed help! Also, I would not use quite as much pasta.

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Beckymc

Cooking Level: Expert

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Reviewed: May 14, 2004

I make a very similar dish- except I use a 16 oz jar of salsa instead of the canned tomatoes and serve it wrapped burrito-style in tortillas with the cheese and sour cream, instead of over pasta. It's fast and very tasty.

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bluekat32

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Reviewed: Apr. 25, 2004

This recipe was great! I followed the directions except that I substituted a smaller can of corn. I also added a little extra cheese. The sour cream gave it a tangy flavor that my family loved. I will make this recipe again.

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LAMYERS

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Reviewed: Mar. 23, 2004

This dish was okay. Not one of my favorites. I needed to add spaghetti sauce to add flavor. Just a little to bland for us. I will probably make it again and try other spices or something to give it a little kick.

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Conner

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