This Taco Pasta Skillet is a wonderful one pot meal that is cheesy and extremely flavorful! A quick and easy meal that the entire family will ask for over and over again!
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Why We Love This Taco Pasta Skillet
- A quick meal that does not disappoint. It's on the dinner table in less that 30 minutes, a perfect dish for busy weeknights.
- Made in one pot, means less dishes and easy cleanup.
- This hearty meal is as easy as tacos and just as flavorful! Plus, it's made with pasta! Tacos and pasta? Yes, Please!
- Made with simple ingredients that you most likely have on hand.
- A family friendly meal that is sure to be a big hit!
Taco Pasta Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef
- Onion
- Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
- Taco Seasoning
- Salt
- Milk
- Beef Broth
- Short Cut Pasta
- Shredded Co-Jack Cheese
Substitution Suggestions
- Ground Beef: You can use ground turkey or ground chicken to lighten it up a bit.
- Onion: If you or your family are not fans of onions, you can replace it with 2 tablespoon of dried minced onion or 2 teaspoons of onion powder.
- Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes: Original diced tomatoes can be used as well as tomatoes with green chiles. Instead of the diced tomatoes, try salsa! You can use mild, medium or spicy. Whichever you like best!
- Milk: I prefer to use cows milk, you can use whichever unsweetened milk you keep on hand. You can also omit the milk and use more beef broth.
- Type of Pasta: Any type of short cut pasta will work. Some of my favorites are Rotini, Farfalle, Medium Shells, Cavatappi or Macaroni noodles.
- Shredded Co-Jack Cheese: You can use the cheese you like on your tacos. We prefer Co-Jack, however Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Pepper Jack are all delicious options.
Take your Taco Tuesday to the next level with these easy cheesy taco pasta skillet. This is going to be a new family favorite!
How To Make One Pot Taco Pasta
- First step is to gather all your ingredients. I say this a lot, but it is so helpful when wanting to make dinner quick and easy.
- Now in a deep sided large skillet, brown the beef and onion together until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are translucent. Drain any grease if necessary.
- Next, you will need to add the diced tomatoes with their juices, taco seasoning, salt, milk, beef broth and pasta. Stir it all together.
- After it is all stirred together, let the mixture come to a boil. Once boiling, stir it a bit, place a cover on the pan, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and tender, then remove from heat.
- Lastly, stir in the shredded cheese one handful at a time until completely melted.
Taco Pasta Skillet Toppings
- Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt
- Salsa
- Avocado Slices
- Fresh Diced Tomatoes
- Diced Red Onions
- Cilantro
- Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
- Homemade Queso Cheese Dip
What to Serve with Taco Pasta Recipe
For us this is a complete meal. However, most of the time I like to serve it with a side salad for something refreshing. Here are some other yummy side dishes that would work well:
One of my kids' favorite thing to eat is tacos. Although I'm also a huge fan of tacos I like to switch it up a bit. This easy taco pasta skillet is a fun way to switch it up but keep all the delicious taco flavors.
Storing Cheesy Taco Pasta
Storing: Any leftover taco pasta that has been cooled can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezing: You can also freeze the leftovers. Place the cooled taco pasta in a freezer safe airtight container, label, date and freeze. It will last in the freezer for at least 4 months.
Thawing: Thaw overnight in the fridge or in the microwave on the defrost setting.
Reheating: Using a microwave safe bowl, add the taco pasta and a little touch of milk or water to loosen up the sauce. Then reheat starting at a minute, stir and then keep reheating in intervals of 30 seconds until completely warmed through. You can also reheat over low heat on the stove, also adding a little bit of milk, broth or water to help maintain it's creaminess.
If you and your family love taco nights, try these other Mexican inspired recipes!
Tips for Taco Pasta Skillet
- Make your own taco seasoning mix. It tastes so much better!
- Use a deep 12 inch skillet to make stirring easier and avoid a huge mess on your stove. If you don't have a large enough skillet, use a soup pot. It will work just as good.
- Do NOT drain the canned tomatoes.
- Be sure to stir the hamburger helper a few times while its cooking the pasta or ground beef doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Shred your own cheese. It melts easier and has the best flavor.
- If the taco pasta seems dry and not creamy enough, add a few splashes of milk, beef broth or water to thin it out.
More One-Pot Meals:
- Skillet Goulash
- Ground Turkey Chili
- Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Ham Fried Rice
- Italian Minestrone Soup
- Skillet Lasagna
- Easy Spaghetti Shrimp
- Chili Mac Skillet
Taco Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 14 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes, Do NOT drain
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, heaping
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2½ cups milk
- 2 cups beef broth
- 16 oz rotini pasta
- 2 cups shredded co-jack cheese
Instructions
- In a large deep skillet, brown beef and onion together over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are translucent. Drain any grease.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, salt, milk, beef broth and pasta. Bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, stir it, cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium-low.
- Simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and tender. Remove skillet from heat.
- Stir in shredded cheese one handful at a time, until fully melted.
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