Description
Cheesy Taco Pasta is a bold, satisfying ground beef dinner that blends Tex-Mex flavors with creamy pasta comfort. Ready in under 30 minutes, this one-pan meal is family-friendly, freezer-friendly, and perfect for weeknight dinners or leftovers.
Ingredients
Scale
- Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (if beef is very lean)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons homemade)
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 8 oz pasta (elbow, shells, penne, or rotini)
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional Add-ins:
- ½ cup corn kernels
- ½ cup black beans, rinsed
- 1 diced bell pepper
- Dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes
- Toppings:
- Chopped cilantro
- Diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Avocado or guacamole
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet or sauté pan, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add diced onion and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
- Add Seasoning & Liquid: Mix in taco seasoning, beef broth, and tomato sauce.
- Cook the Pasta: Add uncooked pasta. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.
- Make It Cheesy: Turn off heat. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Serve: Top with fresh cilantro, sour cream, or avocado. Serve hot.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting texture.
- Let dish rest 2–3 minutes before serving to thicken sauce.
- Add uncooked pasta directly to sauce for extra flavor infusion.
- Adjust spice level with hot sauce or jalapeños to taste.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1½ cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Cheesy Taco Pasta, Ground Beef Pasta Recipe, Taco Pasta Dinner, Tex-Mex Pasta, Easy One Pan Dinners