Busy Day Pasta

You know those nights where even boiling water feels like a commitment?

This is your recipe.

Cook spaghetti, drain it, toss with olive oil, stir in salsa, and blanket the whole thing in grated Monterey Jack cheese. The residual heat melts the cheese into stretchy, gooey strands while the salsa brings a zesty kick.

It’s barely a recipe and more of a survival strategy, but it punches way above its weight in flavor.

Variations

• Use pepper jack cheese for extra heat
• Add rotisserie chicken or black beans for protein
• Swap spaghetti for penne or rotini so the salsa clings to every nook

Kitchen Tips

• Reserve a splash of pasta water before draining to loosen things up if the cheese clumps
• Use chunky salsa for more texture, smooth picante for a saucier finish