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One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta: Easy Weeknight Dinner

A spoonful of cheesy, saucy taco pasta being lifted from a white bowl, showing long cheese pulls.
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Welcome to my kitchen! This One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta brings the bold flavor of tacos and the comfort of creamy pasta together in a single skillet. It is a fast, family-friendly meal perfect for busy weeknights with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning mix
  • 4 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni or small shell pasta
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (optional, for extra creaminess)

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef and chopped onion in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Drain off any excess grease.
  2. Stir in the taco seasoning mix and cook for one minute until fragrant.
  3. Pour in the water or broth, the can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, and add the dry pasta to the skillet. Stir everything together.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.
  5. Once the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, remove the skillet from the heat.
  6. Stir in the milk and the shredded cheese until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is creamy.
  7. If using, stir in the sour cream for richer flavor.
  8. Serve immediately. This is a great easy dinner recipe.

Notes

  • For a spicier dish, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper with the taco seasoning.
  • If you do not have broth, plain water works fine, but broth adds more depth to this skillet meal.
  • This recipe is a quick taco pasta dinner alternative to traditional casseroles.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://carlacooking.com/one-pot-cheesy-taco-pasta-easy-dinner/