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Busy nights call for easy, delicious dinners, and this one pot cheesy taco pasta delivers big on both! With tender pasta, seasoned ground beef, and a creamy, cheesy taco-inspired sauce, it’s a guaranteed family favorite. Plus, everything cooks in one pot—meaning less time cleaning up and more time enjoying your meal. It’s comfort food with a zesty kick, perfect for when you need something quick, hearty, and totally satisfying!
This one pot cheesy taco pasta is a quick, hearty meal with seasoned beef, tender pasta, and a creamy taco-flavored sauce—ready in 30 minutes!
You might also like to try maple bacon-wrapped green beans, shiitake mushroom crostini bruschetta, or even twice-baked sweet potato casserole
Why You’ll Love It
Really delicious: This cheesy taco pasta tastes so good, with bold beef, onion and garlic flavors, along with cheese, macaroni and other goodies.
Easy to whip up: You’ll find this recipe super-simple to prepare.
Minimal cleanup: This is a one pot recipe so you (or whoever you allocate to do the washing up) won’t have too much to do!
One Pot Taco Pasta Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Ground beef: For a rich, meaty flavor.
Aromatics: Onion and garlic are delicious with the ground beef flavor.
Beef broth: Any brand you like will work here, or you could try my beef bone broth recipe.
Heavy cream: For rich, velvety indulgence.
Herbs and spices: Cumin, oregano and paprika add south of the border flavors. I like to use smoked paprika in mine.
Beans and corn: To add protein as well as extra flavor.
Cheddar cheese: I used sharp cheddar cheese but a Mexican cheese blend would work also.
How to Make Cheesy Taco Pasta
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook the beef and vegetables: Cook the beef, garlic and onion and then add the tomato paste and spices. The broth, tomatoes and cream go into the pot next.
Add the pasta: Next, add the pasta and let it cook, stirring occasionally.
Add the corn and beans: Add the corn and beans as well as some salt and pepper. Cook briefly to warm everything through, then serve and enjoy.
Substitutions and Variations
Spice it up: If you want to spice the recipe up some more, you could add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder to the mixture. Red pepper flakes would suit this skillet pasta dinner.
Macaroni: Feel free to use any shape of pasta you want.
Cheddar cheese: Use any kind of shredded cheese or combine more than one.
Black beans: Substitute kidney beans or another favorite.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your meal with grilled chicken skewers or chicken zoodle soup.
Side dishes: If you want to serve something on the side, consider iceberg wedge salad or French onion bacon dip with your preferred dippers.
Dessert: Finish with a batch of delicious chewy coffee cookies.
How to Store Cheesy Taco Macaroni Skillet
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in the oven or microwave.
Top Tips
Stir often: Remember to stir the contents of the pot regularly, at least once every couple of minutes.
Pasta cooking time: Bear in mind the pasta will take a couple more minutes to cook than you would expect. This is because it’s in a pan with other ingredients. So if the package says it should take 10 minutes to cook through, consider giving it 12.
Top up the liquid if needed: Some pastas require more liquid to cook than others, so add extra liquid if the mixture in the pot is drying out. You will be able to eyeball this. If you end up with too much liquid you can always leave some behind in the pot when serving up.
Cheesy Taco Pasta FAQs
You can always taste a piece to gauge if it’s tender enough for you. I like my pasta slightly al dente – neither too firm nor too soft! Everyone has their own preferences though. I know some people like soft pasta, so if that sounds like you, another minute or two will result in perfection.
Yes, if you swap the ground beef for extra beans or your preferred vegetarian protein and the beef broth for vegetable broth.
Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta Recipe
One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
Equipment
- Pot Large
Ingredients
- 1 Pound ground beef
- 1 onion, small
- 3 Cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 Cups beef broth
- 1 Can diced tomatoes, 14½-Ounce can
- ½ Cup heavy cream
- 2 Teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 Teaspoon oregano, dried
- 1 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ Teaspoons ground paprika
- 1 Pound pasta , any kind
- 1 Cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- ¾ Cup canned corn, drained and rinsed
- 1 Cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- salt and black pepper , to taste
Optional Garnishes:
- cheddar, shredded
- avocado, sliced
- tomato, diced
Instructions
- Heat up a pot over medium high heat and add the ground beef.
- Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until no longer pink, add the garlic and the onion and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until most of the liquid has dissolved.
- Add spices and tomato paste, stir and cook another minute to cook the bitterness out of the tomato paste.
- Deglaze with 3 ½ cups of the beef broth, the diced tomatoes and heavy cream, then bring to a boil.
- Pour in the pasta and cook for the time that is written on the package, stirring every 2 minutes.
- Pasta should be very al dente now, if there is no visible liquid left add a bit more of the remaining beef broth.
- Add the corn and the beans and cook for another 2 minutes or until pasta is cooked.
- Stir in the cheese, add salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately with your preferred garnishes.
Notes
Pasta cooking time: Bear in mind the pasta will take a couple more minutes to cook than you would expect. This is because it’s in a pan with other ingredients. So if the package says it should take 10 minutes to cook through, consider giving it 12.
Top up the liquid if needed: Some pastas require more liquid to cook than others, so add extra liquid if the mixture in the pot is drying out. You will be able to eyeball this. If you end up with too much liquid you can always leave some behind in the pot when serving up.
Nutrition
I love Mexican food and I love Italian food. I mean, I am Italian but Mexican food is just so good too! This recipe feels like bringing the two cuisines together, and you know what – it’s harmonious! Pasta is a great base for this south of the border style sauce and the dish comes together seamlessly.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Can this be made in a crockpot?
I haven’t tried this recipe in a crockpot but I like making it because it’s a one-pot recipe. If you were to make it in a crockpot, you’d have to boil the pasta separately in another pot and then drain and add it to the mixture in the crockpot. The pasta wouldn’t take on the flavors of the taco seasonings. Also, some of the juices and liquid evaporates when cooking on the stove to thicken it up and this wouldn’t happen in a crockpot. So I wouldn’t really recommend it for this dish.
This easy, one-pot meal is exactly what I needed. So convenient!
So so good!!! I love this recipe. So easy to make and so satisfying!
The cheesier, the better. My fave!
This looks so good! I can’t wait to try it