Description
Hearty Taco Pasta brings Mexican-inspired comfort to your dinner table, blending spicy ground beef with creamy pasta in a quick and satisfying meal. Families will savor these zesty flavors that combine classic taco seasonings with comforting noodles for an irresistible dinner experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Pasta and Base:
- 8 oz pasta (penne or rotini)
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup salsa
Toppings and Extras:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup diced red onions
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then brown ground beef until no pink remains, breaking it into small crumbles.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over the meat and stir thoroughly to distribute evenly, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Add water and salsa to the skillet, stirring to combine with the seasoned meat and create a sauce.
- In a separate pot, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain completely.
- Transfer cooked pasta directly into the meat mixture, gently folding to ensure even coating and integration of flavors.
- Reduce heat to low and let the pasta simmer in the sauce for 2-3 minutes, allowing it to absorb the taco-seasoned liquid.
- Remove skillet from heat and immediately sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top, letting it melt from the residual warmth.
- Garnish with diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, chopped cilantro, and diced red onions for added texture and freshness.
- Finish by dolloping sour cream on top and seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve hot, directly from the skillet, for a vibrant and flavorful one-pan meal.
Notes
- Select lean ground beef for a healthier version, reducing overall fat content while maintaining rich flavor.
- Swap beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for lighter, diet-friendly alternatives that still deliver robust taste.
- Toast dry pasta briefly before cooking to enhance nutty undertones and create deeper, more complex flavor profile.
- Use low-sodium taco seasoning to control salt intake and customize spice levels according to personal preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg