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Home » Pasta » Taco Pasta

May 13, 2018 By Sara 19 Comments

Taco Pasta

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Taco Pasta Recipe | Cheesy Pasta| Mexican Pasta #taco #pasta #dinneratthezoo

This easy taco pasta is made with ground beef, tomatoes, and plenty of cheese, all tossed in a creamy sauce. Garnish with your favorite taco toppings for a quick and family friendly dinner option!

Tacos are always a hit with both kids and adults. This taco pasta is a unique way to get your taco fix with minimal work.

Taco Pasta Recipe | Cheesy Pasta | Mexican Pasta #taco #pasta #dinneratthezoo Taco Pasta Recipe | Cheesy Pasta | Mexican Pasta #taco #pasta #dinneratthezoo

This taco pasta is loaded with ground beef, cheese and tomatoes, then garnished with fresh cilantro.

Creamy, cheesy taco pasta is one of my girls’ most requested recipes. I’m always happy to oblige because it’s a hearty meal and only takes about 20 minutes to whip up, perfect for a busy night! The best part of this recipe is you can add as many toppings as you like to really get that loaded taco experience, but in pasta form.

How do you make taco pasta?

To make taco pasta, you’ll need ground beef, onions, pasta, tomatoes, cream cheese and sour cream. The first steps is to cook the ground beef with onions, tomatoes and taco seasoning to form the base of this recipe.

A skillet of cooked ground beef and tomatoes.

After your meat mixture is done, cooked pasta goes into the pan. I used rotini but any short pasta will work, such as penne, shells or macaroni. I cook my pasta at the same time as I make my meat to save on time.

A skillet of cooked ground beef seasoned with tomatoes, and rotini pasta.

The next step is to make the sauce, which is a combination of cream cheese, sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese. Be sure to save some water from cooking the pasta in case you need to thin the sauce.

Rotini pasta mixed with ground beef and tomatoes in a creamy sauce.

Finally, it’s time for the toppings! I went simple here with a sprinkling of fresh tomatoes and cilantro, but other great topping ideas include

  • olives
  • sour cream
  • avocado
  • tortilla strips
  • sliced jalapenos
  • shredded cheese

A bowl of taco pasta topped with sour cream, tomatoes and cilantro.

What kind of ground beef is best for pasta?

I typically use 90% lean ground beef. It’s flavorful, yet not overly greasy. If you use ground beef with a higher fat content, be sure to drain off any excess grease before you add the pasta to the pan. Looking to save a few calories? Ground turkey or ground chicken can also be used in this dish.

A skillet of taco pasta topped with fresh diced tomatoes and cilantro.

More Mexican inspired meals

  • Ground Beef Tacos
  • Chicken Santa Fe
  • Mexican Pizza
  • Mexican Caesar Salad
  • Chicken Enchilada Casserole
This taco pasta is loaded with ground beef, cheese and tomatoes, then garnished with fresh cilantro.
Print Pin
5 from 11 votes

Taco Pasta

This easy taco pasta is made with ground beef, tomatoes, and plenty of cheese, all tossed in a creamy sauce. Garnish with your favorite taco toppings for a quick and family friendly dinner option!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword mexican pasta, taco pasta
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 571kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces rotini pasta or other short pasta
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound ground beef I use 90% lean
  • 1/2 cup minced onion
  • 1 14 ounce can petite diced tomatoes drained
  • 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • 2 ounces cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup diced Roma tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • Additional taco toppings if desired such as tortilla strips, olives, avocado and jalapenos

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta in salted water according to package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water.
  • While the pasta is cooking, prepare the beef.
  • Heat the oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and break up with a spatula.
  • Add the onion to the pan.
  • Cook for 4-5 minutes or until meat is browned and cooked through, and onion is tender.
  • Add the tomatoes and taco seasoning to the pan and stir to combine.
  • Pour the cooked pasta into the pan with the meat. Reduce the heat to low.
  • Add the cream cheese, sour cream and cheddar cheese to the pan. Cook, stirring constantly until cheese are melted. 
  • Add reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed to thin the sauce to desired consistency.
  • Sprinkle with tomatoes and cilantro and serve. Add additional taco toppings if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 571kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 486mg | Potassium: 642mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1075IU | Vitamin C: 3.8mg | Calcium: 291mg | Iron: 3.8mg

Filed Under: Dinner, Pasta Tagged With: Ground Beef, Mexican Food

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Comments

  1. Leah N says

    March 18, 2021 at 2:56 pm

    5 stars
    Yum! Super easy to put together, inexpensive, and everyone enjoyed it. Thanks! might try it with chicken, too, as other commenters suggested. I think both would be equally delicious.

    Reply
  2. Erin says

    August 18, 2020 at 9:18 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this with a few changes. Used salsa instead of tomatoes, added a bit of garlic and used chicken breast! Absolute hit!!!

    Reply
  3. Mary B says

    July 16, 2020 at 2:10 pm

    5 stars
    This was delicious. My finished product wasn’t as pretty as yours, but the flavor is outstanding. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  4. Marie says

    May 31, 2020 at 6:23 am

    5 stars
    This recipe was a huge hit, even my 1 year old loved it. I also added avocado to the top. Fantastic, I’m making it again for my pregnant sister this week. Yummy and comforting

    Reply
  5. CookinQueen says

    April 7, 2020 at 9:04 am

    5 stars
    I’m cooking thi tonight using chicken breast

    Reply
  6. Kathy says

    March 25, 2020 at 2:19 pm

    5 stars
    Creamy cheesy goodness which I topped with avacado and more sour cream! Yum

    Reply
  7. Flo says

    February 2, 2020 at 2:08 pm

    5 stars
    So easy and for a nice change everyone in the family will eat the same meal I prepare! Winner!

    Reply
  8. Sandy says

    November 12, 2019 at 4:30 pm

    I had torilla chips on the side and I used salsa instead of the diced tomatoes. Very good!

    Reply
  9. Debbie says

    May 21, 2018 at 7:50 pm

    5 stars
    Love this yummy pasta and my family will also!

    Reply
  10. Victoria says

    May 17, 2018 at 11:39 am

    5 stars
    Tacos and pasta – my two loves! This looks AMAZING and sounds easy enough to make so a rookie (hi!) won’t burn the house down! I think this has made its way onto my ‘to cook’ list!

    xo, Victoria

    Reply
  11. Lydia Samson says

    May 16, 2018 at 10:26 pm

    5 stars
    This looks so amazing and yummy. It is super easy too, so I can make it after work when I am tired.

    Reply
  12. Chelsya says

    May 16, 2018 at 8:35 pm

    Wow, I’m not a taco girl but reading through this got my mouth watering! This looks so fun to make. Definitely perfect for get togethers and night-ins.

    Reply
  13. Sam says

    May 16, 2018 at 8:32 pm

    Wow this taco pasta is just what I was looking for. It looks delicious!!!

    Reply
  14. Lavanda Michelle says

    May 16, 2018 at 3:28 am

    This looks so tasty and colorful. I can’t wait to give this recipe a try.

    Reply
  15. Daisi says

    May 15, 2018 at 2:28 pm

    This recipe looks really good. I will try a vegan version of it and see how it comes out.

    Reply
  16. Daria says

    May 14, 2018 at 11:33 pm

    I love all kinds of pastas and i love tacos, this is a perfect combo!

    Reply
  17. Flyingkids says

    May 14, 2018 at 11:12 pm

    Love cheese. Love tacos. What a great recipe! This looks really delicious:)

    Reply
  18. Andrea says

    May 14, 2018 at 5:25 pm

    5 stars
    think taco pasta looks incredible. love love love. i like how easy it is to make and how it comes together in no time. and full of flavor.

    Reply
  19. Nik says

    May 14, 2018 at 10:27 am

    Beautiful pictures. Gonna recommend my gf this blog for sure. She will love it. Thanks 🙂

    Reply

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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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