Who says you have to choose between tacos and pasta? Why not enjoy them together in one delightful dish? Taco pasta takes the best of Mexican and Italian cuisines and combines them into a fantastic, flavorful meal that will satisfy all your cravings. Join us as we explore the art of crafting this mouthwatering fusion dish that will surely leave you wanting seconds!
This one-pot taco pasta is an easy 30-minute dinner that you can whip up any night of the week. Seasoned ground beef, tender pasta, smothered in a creamy and cheesy sauce.
You can whip up this cheesy taco pasta for the whole family, or whip it up and serve it up for a crowd. Pair with your favorite side dishes and ring that dinner bell.
The combination of savory taco seasonings with the hearty goodness of pasta creates a unique flavor profile that is impossible to resist. Imagine indulging in al dente pasta coated in a rich and zesty sauce infused with everything you love about tacos. The result? A divine explosion of flavors that dance on your taste buds!
You can tailor this dish to your personal taste preferences by playing around with the ingredients. Feel free to choose your favorite type of pasta such as penne, rigatoni, or even shell-shaped pasta like i did here to capture all the delicious sauce. Additionally, you can customize the protein if you dont want to use ground beef, try adding shredded chicken, or even black beans for a vegetarian twist. Let your imagination run wild and enjoy the flexibility this dish offers!
Whether you’re hosting a casual gathering or feeding a hungry family, this fusion dish never fails to impress. Its vibrant colors, tantalizing aroma, and explosion of flavors make it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Serve it at your next game night or potluck, and watch as your friends and loved ones eagerly come back for seconds and thirds! Also, be sure to check out the Taco Bell Chalupas! Or you might want to check out Birria tacos, taco pinwheels, or even this taco fried chicken.
Reasons You Will Love This Taco Pasta
- This is an easy weeknight dinner for you to make!
- Simple pantry ingredients that you might already have on hand.
- Kid-friendly meal for even picky eaters to enjoy.
- This is a one-pot meal so it creates an easy cleanup for whoever does the laundry.
- Similar to a homemade version of a Taco Hamburger Helper.
Also, check out this Dorito taco pasta salad for another taco-flavored dish with pasta and ground beef.
Ingredients
Ground Beef – I used ground beef for this taco pasta dish. Just make sure to drain off any excess grease once you brown it up.
Seasoning – Taco seasoning is used, buy your favorite brand or make homemade taco seasoning.
Garlic – Freshly minced garlic is going to really elevate the flavor of this dish.
Salsa – Chunky salsa is great for tons of flavor to this pasta dish.
Pasta Shells – Opt for pasta shells for soaking up all the ground beef seasoned mixture.
Cheese – I shaved up a brick of marbled cheddar cheese for stirring in the dish.
Cilantro – Consider topping your dish with some chopped cilantro for garnish and flavor.
Variations to Recipe
- Ground turkey, pork, or even chicken can be used in replace of beef.
- Add in a can of rinsed and drained black beans, pinto beans, or even kidney beans.
- Mix in some frozen corn for a hint of sweetness.
- Instead of salsa use a can of drained Rotel in replace.
- Use Better than Bouillon in replace of beef broth. Or you can even use bone broth for added nutrients.
- Any style of medium-sized pasta works great for this cheesy pasta.
- Use a different variety of cheese to change up the flavor of the recipe.
- Instead of ground meat, you can dice up leftover cooked chicken to use for this recipe.
- Go right ahead and create a meatless dinner and just leave out the meat.
- You can use a lower-sodium broth if you need to watch your salt intake.
Pro Tips For Success
- Make sure to drain off the grease from the meat. This is going to help give you the best flavor to the dish without the excess oil floating on the top.
- Shredding cheese off a block offers the best creamy texture to the dish over pre-shredded cheese.
- You get to control the heat factor. You can use mild, medium, or hot taco seasoning to create the right heat factor.
- Don’t overcook the pasta or it can become soggy.
- Make sure that if your pasta is still needing longer to cook but running out of liquid, add more broth. All types of pasta take different amounts of liquid to fully cook so make sure if it is looking like it needs more liquid add a splash more.
Storing
Refrigerate: You are welcome to refrigerate any of the leftover creamy pasta. Just place it in a sealed container and store it for 2-3 days.
Reheat: To reheat you can opt to warm it up in the microwave or opt to reheat in a skillet on the stovetop. Just heat until it is warmed all the way through.
Freezing: If you want you can freeze any of the pasta you do not plan to eat. Place in a freezer container and store for 3-4 months. Then thaw in the fridge overnight or reheat from frozen.
Best Side Dishes
While this easy Tex-Mex pasta can be served as a meal in one, it can also be served up with side dishes. Consider pairing it with some roasted or cooked veggies. A crisp green salad, or even chips and salsa would be a great pairing.
Can I make taco pasta ahead of time?
You can easily make this pasta dish ahead of time if you want. Simply cook and store in the fridge and then reheat as you would like. The pasta will be a bit more tender once it is reheated.
What are some optional toppings for taco pasta?
Add a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, or any other of your favorite taco-inspired toppings. Feel free to top with any or all of your favorites.
Why settle for just tacos or pasta when you can have both in one glorious dish? Whip up a batch of taco pasta and create a family friendly recipe that that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more!
Can I make taco pasta spicy?
Feel free to add in the spice factor of taco seasoning. But also you can add in hot sauce or even some red pepper flakes to elevate the heat even more. Or if you like jalapenos saute it with the ground beef as you cook the meat on the stovetop.
More Easy Dinners
Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 1 ounce packet of taco seasoning
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 cups chunky salsa
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 16-ounce box of pasta shells
- 1 8 ounces brick marbled cheddar cheese, shredded
- Fresh minced cilantro, optional garnish
Instructions
- In a large saucepan you will place on stove and turn to medium heat. Add in the ground beef and taco seasoning.
- Cook until all the ground beef is browned evenly and cooked through. Once done drain off excess grease.
- Next add in the minced garlic and cook for a minute to allow the garlic to become fragrant.
- Then you will add in the broth and salsa. Bring to a full boil.
- Pour in the dry pasta and stir well. Turn the heat to a simmer.
- Cover and allow the pasta to cook for 10-15 minutes or until the pasta is cooked. Stir often as it can burn the bottom of the pan.
- Once the pasta is done cooking, turn the heat down and add in the shredded cheese.
- Allow the cheese to melt and then garnish with cilantro and serve.
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