Velveeta Easy Red Beans & Rice

Tonight was one of those nights when my commute took 50 minutes instead of the usual 15-20. Gah!

Thanks goodness I had a hassle-free meal planned. While many of Kraft’s recipes aren’t always the healthiest, they are often one of my top recipe sources when I am seeking something quick and easy to make.

And though I got home after 6:00 PM, dinner was on the table by 6:30 PM. I’ll call that a win!

I did end up having to substitute white beans for kidney beans because I didn’t buy enough kidney beans at the grocery store this past weekend! Kidney beans would have added nice color – and a bit more texture, since they are larger – to the dish.

Cheesiness!

Velveeta Easy Red Beans & Rice

Recipe adapted from Kraft

7oz. (1/2 of 14-oz. pkg.) Smoked Turkey Sausage (Turkey Kielbasa), sliced, halved
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 can (15-1/2 oz.) kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (10 oz.) Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained
2 tsp. chili powder
2 cups water
2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
6 oz. VELVEETA®, cut up

Cook sausage in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 3 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Add red bell pepper and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Add beans, tomatoes and chili powder; mix well. Stir in 2 cups water. Bring to boil.

Stir in rice and VELVEETA; cover. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 to 7 minutes or until water is almost absorbed. Stir until VELVEETA is completely melted.

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The Good: This dish was fine for a fast, easy weeknight dinner. It came together very quickly with minimal effort. The nutritional stats are pretty good too, in terms of reigning in fat and calories, though the dish is high in sodium content.

The Not-So-Good: This red beans and rice recipe was just a little too one-note for me, in terms of both flavor and texture.

What I’d Change: I would adding even more veggies. The red bell pepper was my addition to the original recipe, however, I’d also like to add even more – some onion, green pepper, and frozen corn – as well as additional spices. Maybe also a can of chopped green chilies for additional heat.

Would I Make This Again: Probably not; maybe, only if I made the above changes.

Rating: 6.5/10