One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

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This one pot cheesy taco pasta recipe is easy to make, high in protein, and full of big taco-inspired flavors!

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I improvised this cheesy taco pasta recipe recently when I was (yet again) trying to appease my pasta-loving toddler while hitting my own protein goals for the day. And it ended up being a total success with only one dish to clean — a weeknight win-win! Simply brown up a batch of ground beef (or chicken, pork, etc) with a few veggies, add pasta and seasonings and broth and simmer until cooked, stir in a bag of shredded cheese until it’s nice and melty, serve it up nice and hot and enjoy. I mean, really, what’s not to love about this one?

Let’s make some taco pasta!

Cheesy Taco Pasta Ingredients

Here are a few quick notes about the taco pasta ingredients you will need to make this recipe:

• Ground beef: I used lean ground beef as the juicy and flavorful protein base for this pasta. We will brown it before mixing in the other ingredients to bring out its most robust flavor.
• Pasta: I love using pasta shells in this recipe, which are perfect for scooping up bits of the ground beef, veggies and cheesy sauce into every bite. But just about any pasta shape that you prefer can work in this recipe! Please just read the note below about how cooking times will vary with different brands and shapes of pasta.
• Veggies: Sautéed diced onions and red bell pepper add a sweet and savory flavor, good texture and a pop of color to the pasta. I recommend dicing both finely if you don’t want large chunks.
• Beef stock: We will use beef stock to simmer and cook the pasta, which adds another delicious layer of rich umami flavor to the dish.
• Tomato paste: We’ll use an entire small can of tomato paste in this recipe (no awkward leftovers!) to give the sauce a tangy, rich, tomato flavor.
• Seasonings: I love using a generous amount of fresh garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, and dried oregano to season this dish. But you’re welcome to take a shortcut and use taco seasoning instead if you prefer. Don’t forget to also season the dish with salt as needed. The salt content can vary significantly depending on the brand of beef stock that you use.
• Cheese: I added in a bag of shredded Mexican-blend cheese here, but you could also use PepperJack, Monterrey Jack, sharp cheddar, or whatever other shredded cheese that you prefer.
• Toppings: Finally, don’t be shy with your toppings! Just about anything that you love adding to tacos will work well here too — chopped cilantro, chopped onions, diced avocado, sliced jalapenos, sour cream, you name it!

Recipe Tips

Detailed instructions for how to make taco pasta are included in the recipe below, but here are a few extra tips to keep in mind:

• (Important!) Different pasta shapes will cook differently. As always when making one pot pastas, it’s important to remember that the brand and shape of pasta that you choose here can make a big difference when it comes to cooking time and how much broth the pasta will soak up while cooking. I used bronze-cut shells in testing this recipe, which took around 10 minutes to cook and did not require more broth. If you use a different pasta shape, just keep a close eye on the pasta during the final few minutes of cooking. It’s possible that a different shape will require extra broth to finish cooking (in which case, just add more) or the pasta might cook more quickly, resulting in a slightly thinner sauce.
• Stir the pasta frequently while cooking. With all one pot pasta recipes, it’s also important to stir the pasta frequently (at least once a minute or so) once it has been added so that it doesn’t stick together or burn on the bottom of the pan.
• Season to taste. Be sure to give the pasta a taste test once it has finished cooking and add in more salt or spices if needed.
• Have fun with toppings. Finally, don’t be shy with the toppings here! Just about any toppings that you love on tacos will also be delicious with this pasta. I’m partial to diced avocado, lots of cilantro and a squeeze of lime!

Recipe Variations

Here are a few more fun variations you’re welcome to try with this recipe:

• Use a different protein. Use ground turkey, chicken, pork or chorizo in place of the ground beef.
• Add extra veggies. Boost the veggie content by adding in other chopped veggies, such as cauliflower, corn, kale, mushrooms, sweet potato, spinach or zucchini.
• Make it smoky. Add a diced chipotle in adobo sauce for extra smoky and slightly spicier flavor.
• Make it creamy. Add a dollop of cream cheese or a splash of heavy cream to make this pasta more creamy.
• Make it gluten-free. Use your favorite gluten-free pasta and double-check that all of your other ingredients are certified GF.

More One Pot Pasta Recipes To Try

Looking for more one pot pasta recipes to love? Here are a few of our favorites:

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