Taco Pasta Recipe with taco-seasoned beef, tender pasta, sweet corn, and melty cheese all bubbling together in one pan.
author’s note
The 25-Minute Taco Pasta That Feeds the Whole Family!
I grew up eating Hamburger Helper, and while it’s still a nostalgic dinner for me, it doesn’t taste quite the way I remember. The ingredient list is also a little scary long, and there is often that artificial aftertaste I just don’t love anymore.
I wanted my kids to have that same comforting, nostalgic flavor I remember from childhood, but in a fresher and elevated way. So I got to work testing and perfecting my own copycat version. This Taco Pasta keeps everything I loved about the original: creamy sauce, hearty pasta, and cheesy goodness, but it skips the processed ingredients. It is simple, flavorful, and comes together in one pan with ingredients I always have on hand.
The best part is my kids love it just as much as I did growing up, and I feel good about serving it.
Ingredients In Taco Pasta Recipe
| Ingredient | Swaps or Tips |
|---|---|
| Ground beef | Swap with ground turkey or chicken. For turkey, add extra salt or a pinch of beef bouillon for depth. |
| Onion & garlic | Fresh is best, but onion powder and garlic powder will work in a pinch. |
| Taco seasoning | Homemade or store-bought both work. Add chili powder or cayenne for more heat. |
| Pasta | I use elbow macaroni, but shells or rotini hold the sauce well too. Choose a pasta with a similar cooking time. |
| Cheese | Freshly shredded Mexican blend or sharp cheddar melts smoother than pre-shredded. Pepper Jack adds a spicy kick. |
Quick Tip
Use a large nonstick skillet to cook this dish. A small pan won’t fit all the ingredients, and a nonstick surface prevents pasta from sticking and burning.
How To Make Taco Pasta Recipe
- Brown the Beef: Cook lean ground beef in a skillet until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Cook onion and minced garlic until fragrant.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in taco seasoning and cook for 30 seconds.
- Combine Ingredients: Add water, salsa, corn, pasta, taco sauce, and cooked beef.
- Simmer: Boil, then cover and simmer. Add remaining water; cook until pasta is tender.
- Add Cheese: Remove from heat and stir in cheese until melted. Serve with toppings.
Featured Comment
“I’ve made this recipe several times and it’s always a hit! Instead of buying a packet of taco seasoning, I use your recipe. It’s so much better and cheaper, too! I love the fact that I don’t have to cook the pasta separately, one less pan to wash! It reheats beautifully, too! Chelsea, your recipes are the BEST!!!”
– Donna
Storage
- Store leftover Taco Pasta Recipe in an sealed container in the fridge for 3–4 days.
- For longer storage, freeze in a container or bag for up to 3 months.
- Reheat thoroughly before serving.
More Easy Dinner Recipes:
More Easy Dinner Recipes:
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- Beef Tacos ready in 30 minutes or less!
- One Pan Italian Sausage & Veggies reader favorite
- One Pan Lemon Chicken & Potatoes
- Chicken Stir Fry ready in 30 minutes or less!
Taco Pasta Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Large pan nonstick
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef 93/7
- 1/2 cup yellow onion finely diced
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 packet taco seasoning see note 1
- 2 cups water divided
- 1 cup mild salsa see note 2
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 2 cups elbow pasta 10 ounces
- 1 cup mild taco sauce
- 1-1/2 to 2 cups shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend or sharp cheddar cheese
- Toppings as desired see note 3
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large nonstick pan. Transfer the beef to a plate and drain the fat. Add onion and garlic to the pan. Stir until fragrant—about 30 seconds to a minute on medium-high heat. Add taco seasoning and stir for 30 more seconds.
- Add in 1 cup water, salsa, and corn. Stir well and add uncooked pasta, taco sauce, and reserved cooked beef.
- Bring mixture to a boil, then lower to medium-low heat and cover the pan with a lid. Let simmer about 5–7 minutes, then add the last cup of water and stir everything together again. Return lid and let simmer until pasta is tender, about another 5–7 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Sprinkle with cheese and stir it into the pasta until melted. Top taco pasta with your toppings of choice. I love avocado, sour cream, cherry tomatoes, and fresh cilantro or green onions. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika and 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano and 1/2 teaspoon roasted garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is absolutely delish. I made it tonite for the first time. It is a make again for sure! Thanks for sharing and great job creating it!!!
I saw this last night for the first time on FoodGawker…instantly went home 20 mins later and made this, considering I had all the ingredients already at home…my oh my was this fantastic!!
Served it to my brother, his gf, my bf and me, and it did not last! haha!
I did substitute meat for Saitan meat considering im vegetarian, but wow, was it good! Not too hot, but just enough spice.
Will def make again!!
I LOVE this recipe! I added about a half of a can of black beans, just to up the fiber content and my family LOVED it! And we have a ton of leftovers. YUM YUM YUM!
YAY!! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!! Thanks so much Karin 🙂
Thanks so much for the feature Ali!
Just wanted to let you know that your Taco Pasta is being featured at Simple Supper Tuesday this week.
http://www.hunwhatsfordinner.com/2014/03/simple-supper-tuesday-54_10.html
I rely a lot on peoples comments on recipes. To many times I thought it looked awesome only to be really disappointed. So many people said this recipe looked good and they couldn’t wait to try it but no positive on actually eating it. I am so glad I made this, it is AWESOME( quote from my 8 yr picky eater). Rave reviews from this family of 4. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe Chelsea, definitely a keeper:)
Heather, thank you so much for your sweet comment and for trying out the recipe! This made my day! I hope you and your family are having a wonderful weekend 🙂
Holy COW Chelsea!!!! This looks CRAZY GOOD!!! I love me a good one pot dinner! I am SO trying this! My boys are going to love it!
Thank you so much Jen!! 🙂
This looks super good! I haven’t eaten macaroni forever, man this makes me so hungry!
OMGosh totally drooling over my keyboard on this one. Love that it’s all cooked in one skillet too. Thanks for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday.
I want this now!!