Easy One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
A quick and comforting one-pot pasta dish with bold taco flavors, melted cheese, and tender elbow macaroni, perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (can substitute ground turkey or plant-based crumbles)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup beef broth (low sodium recommended)
- 1 cup water
- 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup cream cheese or sour cream (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the meat and sauté aromatics: Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it apart, and cook until no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if desired. Add diced onion and minced garlic; cook until softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Add liquids and seasoning: Pour in beef broth and water, then stir in diced tomatoes with green chilies and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.
- Cook the pasta: Add uncooked elbow macaroni to the skillet. Stir well to submerge pasta in liquid. Cover with lid and bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed, about 10-12 minutes. Add more water if pasta looks too dry before fully cooked.
- Stir in cheeses: Remove skillet from heat. Add shredded cheddar cheese and cream cheese or sour cream. Stir until melted and creamy. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh cilantro on top. Serve hot straight from the pot.
Notes
Brown the beef thoroughly for extra flavor. Stir pasta occasionally to prevent sticking. If sauce is too thick after adding cheese, add a splash of milk or broth to smooth it out. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and certified gluten-free taco seasoning. For dairy-free, substitute cheese with vegan shreds and cream cheese with coconut or cashew cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1½ cups per se
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: one-pot pasta, taco pasta, cheesy pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meal, Tex-Mex, easy recipe, comfort food