Taco Pasta Hotdish

Winters in the upper Midwest mean hotdish.  Well, I'll be honest...this did not start out to be a hotdish.  It started out to be a taco pizza but it was lacking a crunch factor.  I have no "junk food" in the house and after a glance outside to reconfirm that it is dark and still winter...it was time for plan b.  I needed to mix up a quick batch of taco seasoning from here ~ http://micheleswomancave.blogspot.com/2012/01/taco-layer-dip.html and I was ready to continue on with dinner.

Taco Pasta Hotdish

1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp taco seasoning
1 cup beef broth
1 -  8 ounce can tomato sauce
4 oz cream cheese
3 cups cooked small pasta shells
1 cup Marble Jack shredded cheese
sour cream (optional)

Brown hamburger.  When almost cooked through, add in onions and garlic.  When onions are translucent, add in beef broth, tomato sauce and cream cheese.  Stir until cream cheese has blended into sauce.  Pour over cooked pasta in a greased casserole dish and stir.  Place in oven at 350° for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and top with cheese.  Bake for another 15 minutes.  Serve with sour cream if desired.