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Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish (or 3 qt baking dish) and set aside.
Step 2
Boil pasta, according to package directions, in a large pot of water. Be sure to add a generous pinch of kosher salt to the water, as it will flavor the pasta. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water. Lightly drizzle drained pasta with a little olive oil to keep it from sticking and add it to a large mixing bowl.
Step 3
While pasta is boiling, add ground beef and brown over MED-HIGH heat, breaking up the meat into crumbles, until cooked through, about 4-5 minutes. Add onion and chili powder to the ground beef and cook another 2-3 minutes. Depending on how much fat is rendered from the beef, you may need to drain it at this point.
Step 4
Add salsa to ground beef skillet and stir to combine. Add to the cooked pasta in the mixing bowl.
Step 5
Add butter to a medium saucepan and cook over MED heat. When butter is melted, add flour and whisk to combine. Cook 30 seconds, then slowly whisk in the milk, a little at a time, whisking as you add it. Cook until thickened, then stir in 2 cups of the cheddar cheese and 1 cup of the pepper jack cheese. Stir in black pepper, kosher salt and oregano.
Step 6
Pour cheese sauce into the large mixing bowl with the meat mixture and pasta. Stir to combine. If mixture seems too thick, add a little bit of the reserved pasta water. Add in 1/4 cup each of the cheddar and pepper jack and stir to combine.
Step 7
Transfer pasta to the prepared baking dish, top with remaining cheeses (1/4 cup each of cheddar and pepper jack). Bake for 12-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step 8
Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or cilantro.