This Cheesy Taco Pasta is SO simple to make and SO delicious! With just 5 ingredients this recipe is made in less than 30 minutes and one that your entire family will love.
It's Taco Tuesday every day in my house!
If you have been around my blog for know then you know how much I love taco, taco anything!
I've made so many fun different tacos meals and since the kids even love tacos I'm not stopping anytime soon! This recipe for Cheesy Taco Pasta is so simple is embarrassing.
If you love taco night like we do make sure to check out our recipes for Taco Soup, Taco Spaghetti, and this amazing Taco Casserole.
How to make Cheesy Taco Pasta:
I only used 5 ingredients and it took me just under 30 minutes to make it. It doesn't get much better than that!
Boil your noodles, cook your meat, then mix all your remaining ingredients in with the noodles and meat!
Ingredients:
- Rotini
- Ground Beef
- Water
- Taco Seasoning
- Salsa
- Shredded Mexican Cheese (divided in half)
Directions:
Step One: Get started by preparing the rotini pasta to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Tip: This recipe works well with just about any pasta. If you have another type on hand feel fresh to use that instead.
Step Two: In a large pot cook and crumble ground beef until fully cooked. Drain fat then return to stove top and season with taco seasoning and water.
Step Three: Add cooked pasta to pot with cooked and seasoned ground beef along with salsa and mix well.
Step Four: Add 1 ½ cup cheese to pot and mix until melted. Remove pot from heat and add remaining cheese to the top and allow to melt. Serve and enjoy!
Tools you need to make this pasta:
Most of you know that I love to use one tool for most of my meals. I love One Pot meals or things in my Slow Cooker. This meal is only two items so it still fits my bill of easy to make and easy to clean up!
- Large Pot for the pasta.
- Large Skillet for the ground beef, and large enough to add the noodles once they are cooked.
Use Homemade Taco Seasoning if you would like!
I use taco seasoning all the time, and because of that I love to have my own made and on hand. You can find my Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe by clicking the link!
Storing the leftovers:
This classic meal, which is thousand times better than those boxed Hamburger Helpers makes are large portion, so lunch for the next couple of days is already made!
Once the meal has fully cooled store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 5-7 days.
Just scoop out what you want to eat and microwave for about 1.5-2 minutes to reheat.
Add some extra shredded cheese on top before microwaving for some extra cheesiness!
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Cheesy Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz Rotini
- 1 pound Ground beef
- ½ cup water
- 1 oz Taco seasoning
- 1 ½ cups Salsa
- 2 cups Shredded mexican cheese (divided)
Instructions
- Prepare rotini pasta to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot cook and crumble ground beef until fully cooked. Drain fat as need.
- Add taco seasoning and water to the cooked ground beef. Mix together and cook until water is gone.
- Add cooked pasta to pot with cooked and seasoned ground beef along with salsa and mix well.
- Add 1 ½ cup cheese to pot and mix until melted. Remove pot from heat and add remaining cheese to the top and allow to melt. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
I used this as a base recipe and modified it. Seasoned the ground beef with salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin. Once the beef was cooked, added the taco seasoning + water, boil and simmered ~5 min, then added 1 can rotel tomatoes with chili's, a scoop of questions dip and a scoop of cream cheese, let that cook on medium ~5 min until noodles were done. Added noodles and cheese, melted all together for a few min. Serve either crushed tortilla strips and sour cream on top.
It was good but next time I will use less salsa than suggested because it made it a little spicy even though I used mild salsa. It was really good though and I liked that it only required a few ingredients and was quick for those nights you just don’t have time for cooking.
I made it just right and it was delicious!! my husband loved it!!
So happy to hear that!!
Love this recipe! Do you have any advice on how to make it vegetarian friendly??
You can replace the ground beef with tofu, or just not use meat at all. If you choose to not use any meat, just cook your noodles, then add the remaining ingredients to that pot and mix it all up!
My husband and I love this!!! I added black beans and corn and made it even better. My husband puts sour cream on top and crunched up corn chips. So yummy!!!
So glad y'all liked it!
What could I substitute the salsa with? I don’t like spicy stuff
Hi Kenley, You can always use diced tomatoes instead.
How would you freeze this?
I'm making this tonight only with elbow macaroni! Has anyone tried adding a little sour cream? I'm thinking I might try that!
Yea you could definitely add some sour cream. It would make it a tad creamier.
What is a good side dish to go with this?
I typically serve it with a salad or some veggies.
Made this before it was huge hit... Tonight trying it with chicken 😍
So glad you like it!!
Can I save and reheat?
Yes, this is great to make ahead of time and freeze or refrigerate for later.
Do you add water to the taco seasoning like when you make tacos, or just add the taco seasoning?
Hi Kristen, I do not add water. The salsa usually does the trick and gets it all mixed in!
I’m going to try this- we like anything with taco seasoning. But fyi, your recipe does list 1/2 cup of water added.
What kind of salsa do you use?
Hi Leesha, I usually use a mild chinky salsa. I believe it was a Walmart brand. Any type you like will work! Hope you enjoy the recipe.
Thanks for the recipe. This was easy to make, not expensive at all, and my husband had two bowls; even my four year old ate it (just the noodles, but hey I count that). We'll definitely be having this again.
Yah!! That makes me so happy to hear Heather!!
omg makes me melted and tempting taste 😀
maybe I'll try this one, soon