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:
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- 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.
Is there something else you can sub the taco sauce for or even just leave it out? I hate taco sauce, ever since I was a kid and got some on my sleeve and had to smell it all day and just made me sick.
I haven’t tried this recipe substituting the taco sauce for anything else, so I can’t say for sure, but perhaps some salsa would work in its place? Sorry to not be of more help!
do you cook the pasta first in the taco pasta. It looks great!
The pasta gets cooked in the skillet with the other ingredients – no need to cook it beforehand.
Found this on pinterest, made it tonight with whole wheat noodles and it was Delicious! We all had a second helping!
What exactly is taco sauce?
Hi Beth! I find taco sauce in the Mexican food section of the grocery store – near enchilada sauces, refried beans, hard-shell taco shells, canned green chiles, etc. The best way I know how to describe it is a sauce kind of like enchilada sauce – you get it in the small packets at places like Taco Bell. Here’s a link to a picture of taco sauce: http://www.ortega.com/products/ortega-taco-sauce-mild-8-oz_15360 Hope that helps!
This recipe was a HUGE hit at my house! When we have it we call it Tacoroni!
LOVE the name!! Thanks so much for leaving a review 🙂
I just made this for dinner, found it on pinterest .. The best thing I have ate in such a long time! I was looking and tons of other foods on here as well, I am so excited to starting cooking these recipes thank you so much!!
This comment made my day!! Thanks so much for taking the time – I’m so glad you really enjoyed it 🙂
Looks delicious! Cant wait to try but can i ask what kind of salsa you used? Sorry, not ready to go pro making my own salsa lol, Thanks!
Thanks Lisa! I just used a store-bought salsa 🙂 You can choose your own heat preference – I use medium when I make this dish!
I made this for myself for dinner tonight.
1. It was delicious!
2. I have enough left over to feed myself for the next few days!
This is a great recipe. Thanks.
This is a winner! Everyone in the family loved it!
Made this tonight, and it was a huge hit with the entire family! Everyone asked for seconds! 🙂
Sure to become a staple dinner in our house.
Thank you!
Oh yay! That is so great to hear 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to come and comment! Have a wonderful week Kaley!