Description
Cheesy taco pasta delivers a mouthwatering Mexican-inspired fusion that combines comfort and zest in one delightful dish. Quick weeknight dinners become exciting with this simple, flavor-packed recipe packed with ground beef, melted cheese, and taco seasoning that brings spice to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) pasta (shells or elbow)
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
Seasoning and Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) salsa
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) milk
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) cream cheese
Optional Toppings:
- Sour cream
- Diced tomatoes
- Green onions
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Thoroughly drain and reserve.
- Heat large skillet over medium-high temperature. Brown ground beef, breaking into small crumbles, about 5-7 minutes.
- Eliminate excess grease from meat by carefully draining fat from skillet.
- Incorporate taco seasoning, salsa, and chicken broth into beef mixture. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
- Reduce heat to low. Introduce cream cheese, stirring until completely melted and integrated.
- Pour milk into skillet, blending smoothly with existing sauce. Add shredded cheese and continue stirring until sauce becomes velvety and uniform.
- Gently fold cooked pasta into cheesy taco sauce, ensuring each pasta piece is thoroughly coated with rich, flavorful mixture.
- Transfer to serving dishes while maintaining warmth. Optionally crown with fresh green onions, dollop of sour cream, or additional cheese for enhanced presentation.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner, healthier alternative that keeps the dish protein-packed.
- Use gluten-free pasta and check taco seasoning ingredients to make this recipe completely gluten-free for sensitive diets.
- For extra vegetable nutrition, fold in diced bell peppers, corn, or black beans during the sauce-making stage to boost flavor and fiber content.
- Control spice levels by selecting mild salsa or adding a dash of hot sauce for those who enjoy more heat, making the dish customizable for different taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 555 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg