Get ready to spice up your taco night with our One Pot Taco Mac and Cheese (Beef Taco Pasta Skillet). This dish is a game-changer. It’s all about mixing beef taco pasta with cheesy goodness in one skillet. It’s a homemade Hamburger Helper. Think creamy taco pasta meets easy recipe. We use simple ingredients like ground beef, beef broth, cheese, pasta, Rotel tomatoes, and taco spices. It’s a hearty taco pasta skillet that’ll have everyone asking for seconds. Perfect for busy nights, it’s the comfort food you didn’t know you needed.
If you love Mexican inspired meals, try my favorite Homemade Chicken Enchiladas or these easy Chicken Taquitos.
The whole family will enjoy this cheesy taco pasta recipe. And parents who love one pot meals will love this easy weeknight dinner for pasta nights or taco nights. Or make it as a last minute meal on a busy night.
Why You’ll Love This Taco Pasta Recipe
TASTE: Creamy, cheesy beef and pasta with a taco seasoning kick! If you love creamy pasta and cheesy taco you’ll love this type of pasta. It’s the taste of comfort food.
TEXTURE: This whole dish is soft and creamy.
PROS: This easy taco pasta is a one-pot meal. No need to cook the pasta or beef in separate dishes. You don’t have to use cooked pasta in this dish. Throw the pasta in uncooked and it will turn out perfectly. There is less cleanup! Perfect for busy weeknights or taco Tuesday. It’s a great recipe for busy families. It’s a taco pasta casserole without having to use an additional casserole dish or turn on the oven. Use a dutch oven, large skillet or stock pot.
CONS: This recipe doesn’t have any fresh fruits or vegetables in it so you’ll want to prepare a vegetable side dish to make it a balanced meal.
DIET: Gluten Free (option)
METHOD: Stovetop
Ingredients and Substitutions
Full printable One Pot Taco Mac and Cheese ingredients list including ingredient quantities and instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Ground Beef: We used lean ground beef but you can also use your favorite kind of ground meat like ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Taco Seasoning: Use garlic powder, dried minced onion, ground cumin and chili powder or substitute 2 Tablespoons of taco seasoning. I make my own taco seasoning using this homemade taco seasoning recipe. You can also use a packet of taco seasoning. You can substitute onion powder for dried minced onion.
- Tomatoes: Rotel with green chilis is preferred. If you can’t find Rotel, you can use any diced tomatoes with green chilies. Or a can of diced tomatoes and a can of green chilis.
- Broth: Use beef broth if you’re using ground beef and chicken broth if you’re using ground chicken.
- Milk: Whole milk makes a creamy cheese sauce. You can substitute any type of milk you prefer.
- Pasta: Use your favorite small pasta like pasta shells or rotini, like pasta shells or elbow macaroni. You can use a traditional pasta or choose a whole wheat pasta or, for more protein, try a lentil pasta or chickpea pasta.
- Cheese: We use equal parts mild cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. You could also use a sharp cheddar cheese or pepper jack cheese. Freshly shredded cheese is preferred. In a pinch, you can substitute all the cheese for 2 cups of store bought shredded Mexican cheese blend or a Colby Jack cheese blend.
Gluten Free Option
Pasta: To make this beef taco pasta gluten free you should use a gluten free pasta. We love Banza brand chickpea pasta, which adds some additional protein to the meal and retains its structure well without getting mushy. But there are a lot of good gluten free pastas. Note that rice pastas will tend to become mushy so I would avoid those in this dish.
Broth: Double check your broth! Broths often contain gluten. Make sure your beef broth is gluten free.
Taco Seasoning: If you’re using a store bought taco seasoning you will need to make sure it is gluten free. Most taco seasonings contain gluten as a thickener.
If you are cooking for someone with Celiac Disease, make sure you:
- Clean surfaces with soap and water using fresh cloths or paper towels.
- Use separate utensils and appliances for gluten-free cooking or clean them well before use.
- Store gluten-free ingredients in sealed containers away from gluten-containing foods.
- Carefully check labels to ensure ingredients are certified gluten-free. Remember that the FDA does not require gluten to be labeled in ingredients. It may be labeled as “malt flavor” or “spices” or “caramel coloring” or one of dozens of other terms.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper or foil in shared appliances.
- Wash hands frequently before handling gluten-free food.
Variations
Try one of these variations on taco macaroni to switch up the recipe. Experiment a little! Start with a ground beef mixture and try different seasonings, different pasta shapes instead of shell pasta, or different cheeses. Add in some vegetables for variety to this hearty meal.
Stovetop Cheeseburger Pasta: Make a skillet dish with ground beef, onions, pasta, and a cheesy sauce, garnished with pickles and sesame seeds for a cheeseburger twist to one pot meals.
One-Pot Cheesy Beef and Bacon Pasta: Cook ground beef and bacon together, add pasta and cheese sauce, cooking until creamy. Garnish with green onions.
Philly Cheesesteak Pasta: Combine sliced beef steak, peppers, onions, and penne pasta in a cheese sauce, topped with provolone cheese and broiled until melted, turning it into a taco pasta bake.
See More Cheesy Recipes
If you loved this creamy taco pasta recipe, try one of these other family favorite meals. Delicious recipes for the entire family!
Instructions
Full step-by-step One Pot Taco Pasta instructions are in the recipe card below. You can print or save to Pinterest for later. For photo instructions and recipe tips, continue reading.
Prep: Before beginning, read through the full instructions and measure ingredients before beginning the cooking process. I find this helps speed up cooking and make things a little less stressful. Prep time will take about 5 minutes. See the Ingredients and Substitutions section to learn more about possible substitutions.
Cook Taco Meat: Use an extra large skillet or a large pot or dutch oven. Turn stovetop to medium heat. Add the ground beef and spices to the heated pan and cook until the beef is browned. Use a spatula to separate the meat as it cooks. No need to drain the fat if you used lean ground beef. You might want to drain some of the fat if you have a lot of grease in the pan.
Create Creamy Sauce: Add the tomato paste, Rotel tomatoes, beef broth, 1 cup of milk, and water to the pot. Gently stir the ingredients together with a wooden spoon and bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
Cook Pasta: Add the uncooked pasta to the beef mixture and cook on medium-low heat until the pasta shells are fully cooked. Cook time will vary depending on the type of pasta you use.
Create Cheesy Sauce: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the remaining ½ cup of milk along with the shredded cheeses. Stir constantly until the cheese is completely melted. Serve this easy taco mac while warm.
What To Serve With Cheesy Taco Mac?
Serve your creamy taco pasta while it’s warm. Top with your favorite taco toppings or consider one or two of these side dishes to accompany your cheesy pasta.
- Garlic Bread or Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks: A crunchy, garlicky side complements the creamy, spicy pasta well. For something quick and easy, try Cheesy Garlic Rolls With Bacon. They’re made with refrigerated crescent dough and cook very quickly.
- Green Salad: A fresh green salad with a tangy dressing balances the richness of the cheesy taco pasta. Plus it’s a great way to get in some more veggies. You can’t go wrong with this Easy Greek Salad And Dressing Recipe.
- Mexican Street Corn (Elote): Offers a sweet and spicy contrast to the pasta dish.
- Cilantro Lime Rice: Adds a refreshing and zesty side that pairs nicely with the taco flavors. This Cilantro Lime Rice recipe if very easy. If you’re looking for more flavor, this Instant Pot Mexican Rice recipe is my favorite.
- Roasted Vegetables: Like zucchini, bell peppers, and onions add color and nutrition.
- Refried Beans or Black Beans: Complements the Tex-Mex theme and adds protein and fiber. If you love the Instant Pot, you can easily cook dried beans! Follow my Instant Pot Black Beans Recipe or my Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe.
- Sour Cream and Salsa: For topping, adding coolness and extra flavor to the dish.
Storing and Reheating
Storing leftover cheesy taco pasta ensures that you can enjoy this delicious meal next time you’re in the mood for something quick and tasty. Here’s how to do it right:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container as soon as they’ve cooled down. This step is crucial to keep the pasta fresh and prevent it from absorbing other flavors in your fridge.
- Plan to eat the pasta the next night? Simply place the container in the fridge. Cheesy taco pasta stays good for up to 3-4 days when refrigerated properly.
- When you’re ready to reheat, a splash of milk or water can help bring back the creamy texture. Warm it up in a microwave or on the stovetop, stirring frequently to ensure even heating.
- Decide to freeze your pasta? Cheesy taco pasta can be frozen for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Remember, proper storage of leftover taco mac is key to enjoying your cheesy taco pasta as much the second time around as you did the first!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, you can use enchilada sauce instead of Rotel. It will give your cheesy taco pasta a bit of a different flavor and appearance but will still be delicious.
Cook your pasta to the texture that you prefer. If you prefer your pasta cooked al dente then cook that way. The pasta will not be cooked again, as a casserole might be, so should not need to be cooked al dente to prevent mushiness.
You can add vegetables by sauteing with the beef (onions, green peppers and red peppers would be a good choice).
Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried minced onion
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ cup diced tomatoes with green chilies Rotel brand is preferred
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 ½ cups whole milk divided
- 1 cup water
- 8 oz shell pasta
- 1 cup Monterey jack cheese shredded
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat, combine the 1 lb ground beef, 2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 ½ teaspoon dried minced onion, 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder. Mince and stir until fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
- Add the 2 tablespoon tomato paste, ½ cup diced tomatoes with green chilies, 1 cup beef broth and 1 cup whole milk. Stir ingredients together and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
- Add 8 oz shell pasta and simmer on medium-low until the pasta is cooked. See your pasta package for time suggestions.
- Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the 1 cup Monterey jack cheese 1 cup mild cheddar cheese and ½ cup of whole milk. Stir until cheese is melted and beef taco pasta is combined.
- Serve while warm.
Notes
- Shred your own cheese.
- There is no need to add salt when cooking the beef because there is already plenty of salt in the beef broth.
- Reserving half a cup of whole milk will help keep the pasta smooth and creamy when you melt the cheese.
- Store leftover cheesy beef taco pasta in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
Make sure to share it with me on Instagram @andreasnotebook and follow on Pinterest @andreasnotebook for more!