Easy Taco Pasta – taco meat and pasta tossed in a quick homemade creamy sauce – SO good! Ready in under 30 minutes!! Kids (and adults) gobble this up!! Ground beef, taco seasoning, onion, garlic, salsa, pasta, sour cream, and cream cheese. Seriously DELISH! Serve with a salad and bread for a meal the whole family will enjoy!
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Pin This Recipe20-Minute Taco Pasta Dinner
I love Mexican/Tex-Mex food. We don’t go out to eat it much anymore, so I am always on the hunt for a good recipe to try at home. I found this recipe in an old cookbook and immediately added it to our menu. I love quick and easy weeknight meals and this recipe fits both of those criteria. We absolutely loved this pasta dish. I had to make myself not go back for seconds It was that good. It tasted like a taco, believe it or not! Shocking, I know, since the dish is called Taco Pasta.
How to Make Easy Taco Pasta
As I said this pasta is super duper easy to make. Start with boiling some pasta. While the pasta is cooking, brown some ground beef. Add onion, garlic, salsa, and taco seasoning. Let the mixture cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in the cooked pasta, cream cheese, sour cream, and some reserved pasta water. Cook until the cheese has melted. Top the pasta with some shredded cheese and serve.
- Can substitute ground turkey for ground beef.
- Feel free to add some corn or black beans to the pasta.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-taco-seasoning/
- My favorite store-bought salsas are Maeto’s and Kylito’s. I find both at Walmart.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Salsa: https://www.plainchicken.com/superior-grill-salsa/
- Can use any shape of pasta you have on hand. Small shells, elbow macaroni, mini penne pasta, or egg noodles work great.
What to Serve with Mexican Pasta
This pasta has quickly become a favorite at our house. It is super easy to make and tastes fantastic! You don’t need a lot of side dishes with this pasta. We usually just make a salad and some bread. Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this yummy pasta:
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Easy Taco Pasta
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8- oz small pasta shells
- 1 Tbsp minced onion flakes
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 (1-oz) package taco seasoning
- 4- oz cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Shredded Cheese for topping
Instructions:
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the ground meat over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain fat. Add onion flakes and garlic, cook about 30 seconds.
- Mix in the salsa and taco seasoning and let simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked pasta, cream cheese, sour cream, and reserved pasta water, and continue stirring until the cream cheese is melted and the sauce is well blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with shredded cheese and more sour cream and salsa if desired.
Notes:
- Can substitute ground turkey for ground beef.
- Feel free to add some corn or black beans to the pasta.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning made with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-taco-seasoning/
- Our favorite store-bought salsas are Mateo’s, Kylito’s, Pace Picante Sauce, and Pace Restaurant Style Salsa.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Salsa: https://www.plainchicken.com/superior-grill-salsa/
- Can use any shape of pasta you have on hand. Small shells, elbow macaroni, mini penne pasta, or egg noodles work great.
Steph
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