One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta for Easy Weeknight Meals

This one-pot cheesy taco pasta is a quick, easy dinner packed with bold taco flavors, perfect for busy weeknights and the whole family!

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Perfect for busy weeknights, this easy taco pasta recipe is a guaranteed family favorite — especially for fans of Mexican dinners and classic pasta dishes. Plus, it’s a fun twist on traditional tacos that even picky eaters will devour.

Why You’ll Love This One-Pot Taco Pasta Recipe

• One-pot meal means fewer dishes
• Ready in under 30 minutes
• Easily customizable with your favorite taco toppings
• Works with ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey
• Perfect for using up that box of elbow macaroni or any different pasta shapes

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Lean Ground Beef: Or swap in ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter option
• Beef Broth: Or use chicken broth or vegetable broth, depending on your taste and salt content preferences
• Diced White Onion: Feel free to use yellow onion or red onion too!
• Diced Red Bell Pepper: Or mix in other bell peppers for color and flavor
• Elbow Macaroni: Or other small pasta like shell pasta or rotini
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Or try sharp cheddar, pepper jack, or even vegan cheese shreds
• Mild Salsa: Mild gives it a gentle flavor, but you can substitute it with a spicier salsa if you prefer
• Optional toppings: sour cream, avocado slices, tortilla chips, green chilies, hot sauce

Taco Pasta Tips & Variations

• Stir in black beans, sweet corn, or green chilis for extra texture and flavor.
• Add a pinch of chili powder, garlic powder, or even a spoonful of tomato paste or tomato sauce for more depth.
• Use beef stock if that’s what you have on hand — just adjust for salt content.
• Prefer a different type of pasta? Try rotini, pasta shells, or penne. Cooking times may vary with different pasta shapes.
• Make it meatless with vegan ground beef and vegan cheese shreds for a satisfying plant-based version.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of pasta water or broth for best results.

A Great Way to Spice Up Taco Night

If you’re stuck in a rut with traditional tacos, this beef taco pasta is a fun and flavorful alternative. It’s packed with plenty of cheese, hearty ground beef, and all the zesty goodness of taco seasoning (you can add your own or mix it in with the salsa).

Whether you’re making it for a quick, easy family dinner, prepping ahead for the week, or just craving a cheesy, satisfying pasta dish, this one-pot taco pasta is a must-try.

Taco Pasta Step by Step

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 ½ cups beef broth
• ½ cup white onion, diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 16 oz macaroni noodles, uncooked
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 16 oz salsa, mild

Preparation

Brown the ground beef in a stockpot or Dutch oven until cooked through, then remove it from the pan.

Add the diced onion and pepper and cook for about 3-5 minutes, until softened.

Pour in the beef broth and bring it to a boil.

Add the macaroni noodles and cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes.

Remove from the heat. Mix in the cheese, salsa, and cooked beef and stir to combine.

Serve warm with sliced avocado, sour cream, and other taco toppings.

Taco Pasta Leftovers

Storage: Let your cheesy taco pasta cool completely before storing. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3–4 days. This one-pot meal is a great way to stretch a batch of pasta into multiple meals — and the flavors get even better the next day!

Reheating: To reheat, simply microwave a single portion for about 1–2 minutes, stirring halfway through. If reheating a larger amount on the stove, add a splash of beef broth, pasta water, or chicken broth to loosen up the sauce and restore that creamy texture. For best results, reheat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through.

Freezing: Yes, you can freeze it! Portion your beef taco pasta into freezer-safe containers or bags. Make sure to remove as much air as possible before sealing. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to eat, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat using the tips above. You may want to stir in a little cheddar cheese or broth while reheating to freshen it up. Pro Tip: If you know ahead of time that you’ll be freezing some, slightly undercook the pasta al dente so it holds its texture after thawing.

Recipe

Taco Pasta

This one-pot cheesy taco pasta is a quick, easy dinner packed with bold taco flavors, perfect for busy weeknights and the whole family!

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Course:

Main Dish

Cuisine:

American

Keyword:

pasta

|

pasta noodles

|

taco pasta

|

taco seasoning

|

tacos

|

texmex

Dietary Needs:

Egg-Free

|

Nut-Free

Meat:

Beef

Cooking Method:

One-Pan Meals

Servings: 4 cups

5 from 5 votes

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 ½ cups beef broth
• ½ cup white onion (diced)
• 1 red pepper (diced)
• 16 oz macaroni noodles (uncooked)
• 2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
• 16 oz salsa (mild)

Recommended Equipment

• Stockpot
• Dutch Oven

Instructions

• Brown the ground beef in a stockpot or Dutch oven until cooked through, then remove it from the pan
• Add the diced onion and pepper and cook for about 3-5 minutes, until softened
• Pour in the beef broth and bring it to a boil
• Add the macaroni noodles and cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes
• Remove from the heat
• Mix in the cheese, salsa, and cooked beef and stir to combine
• Serve warm with sliced avocado, sour cream, and other taco toppings

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Nutrition Facts

Taco Pasta

Amount Per Serving (1 cup)

Calories 758 Calories from Fat 387

% Daily Value*

Fat 43g66%

Saturated Fat 20g100%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 14g

Cholesterol 137mg46%

Sodium 1435mg60%

Potassium 807mg23%

Carbohydrates 49g16%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 43g86%

Vitamin A 1810IU36%

Vitamin C 41mg50%

Calcium 465mg47%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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