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This easy taco pasta recipe is a super flavorful 30-minute dish with tender ground beef, cheddar, Rotel tomatoes, and your favorite taco seasonings! Itโs so quick and designed for busy weeknights.
Love a creative twist on tacos? Same. Try this Easy Taco Casserole Recipe, my Beef Taco Salad, or this irresistible Creamy Taco Soup next.
Why youโll love it
This taco pasta recipe is the perfect hybrid dish with hearty, filling pasta and loads of cheese. Itโs also got a really meaty sauce, and thatโs exactly how we like itโฆ and with a touch of cream to round it all out in typical Salt & Lavender fashion! My homemade seasoning mix with tender ground beef canโt be beat.
This beef taco pasta is a fantastic kid-friendly weeknight meal in particular if youโve got some fussy eaters in your home. Itโs creamy, loaded with cheese, and effortless to throw together. Of course, these are all things that adults like too, so everyone is going to be happy with this spin on taco night.
What youโll need
- Pasta โ our kitchen chose shells since theyโre the ideal shape to hold the sauce. Theyโre perfect little pockets. Weโve also tested with penne with great results.
- Ground beef โ weโre using extra lean (96% lean) ground beef since you can then skip the step where you need to drain the fat, and itโs healthier overall.ย
- Seasoning โ my homemade taco seasoning blend has chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, and smoked paprika for all-out flavor
- Red bell pepper โ itโs an easy way to sneak in a veggie and add some crunch
- Rotel tomatoes โ theyโre not just diced tomatoes; they have green chilies too! Original has a little kick, but you can use their mild variety if thatโs a consideration.
- Cheddar โ I chose a sharp cheddar and prefer to grate it myself for the best taste and texture vs. using the bagged shredded kind, but if youโre in a pinch, thatโs ok too.
- Heavy cream โ for that tasty creaminess in the sauce
- Scallions โ optional but a burst of freshness. Theyโre a mild green onion, so the kiddos wonโt mind it at all.
Pro tip
- If you canโt find Rotel, use canned diced tomatoes and get one of those little cans of green chilies separately to use in conjunction. The chilies give this dish a great pop of flavor. Itโs definitely worth it to include them for that signature taste.
How to make taco pasta
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Cook the pasta al dente according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a skillet brown the ground beef with the taco seasoning blend. Break it apart, and then add in the bell pepper.
Stir in the tomatoes, cream, and cheddar. Cook until incorporated. Add in the drained pasta, toss, and season with salt & pepper. Garnish as desired, and enjoy.
Can I add more toppings?
- You bet! Some chopped cilantro would add even more fresh flavor. You can go all out and add a dollop of sour cream and chopped tomatoes from the garden, sliced avocado, etc. Basically, anything youโd normally top a taco with would be a fun addition to this pasta.
Substitutions and variations
- Feel free to use the spicy variety of Rotel tomatoes if you do want a kick. For even more heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some crushed red pepper flakes.
- I recommend trying my homemade taco seasoning, but you can use a premade seasoning if you wish. However, be mindful of the salt content if you go that route so you donโt over-season this pasta.
- If you want this to be creamier, go ahead and add more cream! Conversely, you could leave it out if needed, but it does add moisture and completes the dish.
- Ground turkey would also work in this recipe in place of the ground beef.
What to serve with this pasta
- Itโs a complete meal by itself, but I wonโt say no to a bowl of tortilla chips and my Easy Restaurant Style Guacamole as a tasty side!
- You can also serve taco pasta with a salad. Try pairing some mixed greens, your favorite veggies, and my popular Chipotle Lime Ranch Dressing for a crave-worthy salad.
Leftovers and storage
- Leftovers of this pasta will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container in your fridge.
- Reheat in a small saucepan slowly and over a low heat for best results. Add in a splash of cream if it needs a little reviving.
- I donโt recommend freezing this one. Cheesy sauces donโt always do so well in the freezer.
Let me know if youโve made this simple taco pasta recipe! Questions? Leave me a comment below. As always, tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram with your creations.
Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta
Ingredientsย
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 (10 ounce) can Ro-tel diced tomatoes & green chilies with juices
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese I use sharp cheddar
- 1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional garnish: chopped scallions and cilantro
Instructionsย
- Boil a salted pot of water for your pasta. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, prep your other ingredients and start browning the beef with the spices over medium-high heat in a skillet (approx. 8-10 minutes). Add the red bell pepper once the meat is broken up a bit and starts to brown.
- If you didn't use very lean ground beef, drain most of the excess fat. Add the Rotel tomatoes, cheese, and the cream. Cook for a few more minutes until heated through and the cheese has melted.
- Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce. Season with salt & pepper and garnish as desired.
Notes
- You can use pre-made taco seasoning instead of the individual spices I suggest if you wish.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
ยฉ Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally published on August 12, 2019. Itโs been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
I have made this twice now and it was delicious both times! I use the hot Rotel with the habaneros and itโs mouthwatering! This is going to be in our regular rotation from now on. Ridiculously tasty but also SO simple!
Thatโs great to hear!! ๐ Thanks so much for your review, Katie!
Rave reviews from my family! I used a medley of red, green, yellow peppers and a little jalapeno. Served with refried beans and tortilla chips. Fantastic!
Iโm so glad itโs a new favorite, Barbara!
Made this today. It was a quick and easy meal. Made it before we headed out to the granddaughterโs basketball game. Just reheated when we got home and really enjoyed. Love your recipes
Iโm so happy to hear that, Debbie!!! ๐
This is one of my favorites!! Quick and delicious Great comfort food!
Thank you so much, Traci!
Another great recipe by Salt and Lavender. Super easy to make. Simple ingredients and packed with flavour and heat. Definitely will be making this again.
Thank you so much, Indira!! ๐
This is a recipe of yours Iโve been eyeing for ages to try, just made it for lunch and itโs fantastic! Bought half and half by accident instead of heavy cream and still turned out super great. Topped with lime, extra cheese, and some hot sauce. So glad I have leftovers!!! Instant comfort and super easy to make. Thank you!
Iโm so happy you enjoyed it, Jesslyn!! ๐ Thanks for your review!
I thought it was so good but for some reason it was pretty spicy for my kids ๐ I used original rotel, maybe mild is better? Is chili powder usually spicy? I didnโt think so. Any advice appreciated!
Hi Nadia! Original Rotel has a little spice. I do actually mention that in the blog post in the ingredients section that you may want to replace with mild if spice is a consideration. You are correct that chili powder usually isnโt spicy, but some varieties are (but theyโre typically marked as such).
Delicious! Iโve tried several of your recipes and theyโve all been delicious.
Iโm thrilled to hear that, Terry! Thank you! ๐
Love this. I add corn and top with cilantro. Another keeper ๐
Fantastic!! Thank you!
Made this for dinner tonight and it was excellent!!! I didnโt have heavy cream so I used half and half and it still turned out great.
Wonderful! ๐