Spicy Beef Taco Rigatoni

• Once water is boiling, add rigatoni to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water (2 cups for 4 servings), then drain.

• While pasta cooks, heat a drizzle of oil in a large, preferably nonstick, pan over medium-high heat. Add beef*, half the tomato, half the cilantro, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until cooked through, 4-6 minutes. • Remove from heat. Drain off any excess fat from the pan and stir in Tex-Mex paste.

• While beef cooks, in a small bowl, combine remaining tomato, remaining cilantro, juice from half the lime, and a pinch of salt. • In a separate small bowl, combine sour cream, juice from one lime wedge (two wedges for 4 servings), and a pinch of lime zest.

• Once pasta is cooked, return pan with beef mixture to medium-high heat. Stir in drained rigatoni, cream cheese, Mexican cheese blend, and 1⁄3 cup reserved pasta cooking water (2⁄3 cup for 4 servings). • Cook, stirring, until cheese is melted and everything is completely coated in a creamy sauce, 1-2 minutes. TIP: If sauce seems too thick, add an extra splash of pasta cooking water. • Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.