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Cheesy Taco Pasta

This Cheesy Taco Pasta is a one-pot meal and similar to the beef Hamburger Helper from our past. This is a quick, 30-minute meal perfect for weeknight dinners.

cheesy taco pasta in a white bowl
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I grew up eating plenty of Hamburger Helper. There were so many flavors I liked. Boxed Hamburger Helper is high in sodium, like most pre-packaged seasoning mixes. With this recipe you will make your own spice blend for the taco meat using my Homemade Taco Seasoning filled with ingredients from your pantry. Grab your favorite protein, cheese, and pasta….and you have a delicious weeknight meal.

raw ground beef, beef broth, spiced, and diced tomatoes in separate bowls
chopped onions, heavy cream, shredded cheese, and minced garlic in separate bowls

What Type of Pasta to Use

I like to use rotini in this dish. Rotini is short, corkscrew-like shaped pasta. This shape is also really popular with children. I use rotini when I’m making a dish that will suck up the sauce of the pasta, meaning the pasta and meat will carry most of the flavor of the dish.

Rotini is recommended to be paired with most sauces, like tomato sauces, oil-based sauces, or cream sauces. It also works well in pasta salads. It holds meat and cheese really well and can be used in baked pasta dishes.

However, feel free to use whatever you like! Thin pasta like linguine or spaghetti is better if you want to keep the sauce on your plate, and swirl the sauce and pasta together. If you use rotini, the sauce will adhere to the pasta.

Other types you can use are penne, shells, macaroni, and farfalle.

uncooked rotini pasta in a glass bowl
cooked rotini pasta in a colander

Add Salt to the Water When Cooking the Pasta

You should always salt your water when cooking pasta. The salt won’t sink into the flavor of the pasta because it doesn’t absorb most of it. The salt will keep the pasta from being sticky and slimy. I usually add a teaspoon.

What Type of Cheese to Use

I use a combination of sharp cheddar and Monterey jack cheese. If you are into spicy, try substituting Monterey jack for pepper jack cheese. It’s the same type of cheese, but with added peppers.

Feel free to use whatever type of cheese you like.

ground beef cooked in a pot with taco seasoning

How to Make Cheesy Taco Pasta

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  1. Cook the pasta in accordance with the instructions on the package.
  2. Place a large pot on medium high heat and cook the beef.
  3. Add the onions and garlic. Cook until the ground beef is no longer pink.
  4. Add in the diced tomatoes and chilies, broth, cream or milk, and shredded cheese.
  5. Allow the sauce to thicken.
  6. Add the cooked pasta to the pot.
cheese taco pasta sauce in a pot

How to Thicken the Sauce

Create a slurry and combine 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour along with 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl to create a slurry. Add the slurry mixture to the cream sauce and stir until it thickens.

If your sauce is too thick, you can thin it out with additional broth.

cheese taco pasta sauce in a pot

What Type of Pot to Use

I’m a huge fan of making this a one-pot recipe. I go for this 7-quart Dutch oven. It’s large enough to cook the pasta in and it can withhold higher heat for sauteeing the vegetables and chicken. If you want to make this using one pot, grab one that’s large enough and retains heat well.

cheesy taco pasta in a large pot

Additional Toppings and Substitution Ideas

cheesy taco pasta in a large pot

How to Store Leftovers/How Long it Will Last in the Fridge

Store leftovers tightly sealed and covered for 3-4 days.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze this tightly sealed for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight. When you reheat there will likely be some separation due to the dairy and cheese. I file this under, not the best recipe to freeze, but you certainly can.

What to Pair with the Pasta

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Air Fryer Green Beans
Air Fryer Vegetables
Broccoli Salad
Air Fryer Roasted Garlic

More Taco Recipes

Taco Bell Creamy Jalapeno Sauce
Pork Belly Tacos
Smoked Salsa Recipe
Taco Bell Breakfast Crunchwrap
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
Blackened Fish Tacos
Leftover Taco Meat Bowls
Air Fryer Taco Egg Rolls
Southwest Salad Recipe
Steak Stir Fry
Roasted Creamy Poblano Soup
Slow Cooker Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup

More Pasta Recipes

Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Seafood Stuffed Shells
Southern Chicken Spaghetti

Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
Air Fryer Ravioli
Spaghetti with Sausage
Creamy Seafood Mac and Cheese
Ground Beef Pasta with Alfredo

cheesy taco pasta in a fork
cheesy taco pasta in a white bowl
Print Pin
5 from 21 votes

Cheesy Taco Pasta

This Cheesy Taco Pasta is a one-pot meal and similar to the beef Hamburger Helper from our past. This is a quick, 30-minute meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
Save this recipe here.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword cheesy taco pasta, homemade hamburger helper, recipes with taco meat, taco hamburger helper, taco pasta
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 5 servings
Calories 614kcal

Ingredients

  • 10 oz rotini pasta
  • 1/2 cup chopped onions
  • 3 garlic cloves Minced.
  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey
  • 15.5 oz diced tomatoes and chilies
  • 1 cup beef broth Any broth will work.
  • 1 cup milk or heavy cream Either will work fine. Any milk type you prefer. Heavy cream is thicker.
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour You can also use cornstarch.
  • 1 tablespoon water

Homemade Taco Seasoning (You can use packaged store bought if you wish)

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta in accordance with the instructions on the package.
  • Place a large pot or Dutch oven on medium-high heat and add the ground beef or turkey. Sprinkle the taco seasoning throughout.
  • Break down the ground beef, I use this meat chopper. Add the onions and garlic. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until the ground beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat from the pot if necessary.
  • Add in the diced tomatoes and chilies, broth, cream or milk, and shredded cheese. Stir to combine. Reduce the heat on the stove to medium.
  • Combine the flour and water in a small bowl. Stir until the mixture thickens. Pour the mixture into the pot. Stir until combined.
  • Allow the sauce to thicken. It may take up to 10 minutes. Stir the pot every couple of minutes while the sauce thickens.
  • Add the cooked pasta to the pot. Reduce the heat on the stove to Low. Place a lid on the pot and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the pasta and sauce is well incorporated.

Video

Notes

  • You can also buy a pre-packaged taco seasoning pack if you don’t want to make your own. Use your judgment for how much to use.
  • Feel free to use whatever pasta you like! Thin pasta like linguine or spaghetti is better if you want to keep the sauce on your plate, and swirl the sauce and pasta together. If you use rotini, the sauce will adhere to the pasta.
     
  • If you want a super cheesy dish (similar to my Mac and Cheese recipes), you will need a lot more cheese. I typically use 4-6 cups of cheese in those recipes.
  • If you are into spicy, try substituting Monterey jack for pepper jack cheese. It’s the same type of cheese, but with added peppers.
  • You can use any type of broth you wish.
  • You can substitute any vegetables you wish.
  • For me, this recipe works better with a flour thickener than cornstarch. If your sauce isn’t thick enough you can add an additional tablespoon of flour and water.
  • If your sauce is too thick, you can thin it out with additional broth.
  • You can substitute pasta for zucchini noodles or any low carb pasta you prefer. You can thicken the pasta sauce using 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum. Combine a tablespoon of the cooked sauce with the xanthan gum and add it back to the pot.
  • Macros assume ground beef and 2% milk used in the recipe. Feel free to use the macro calculator of your choice when making the recipe with the ingredients you use.
  • One of our readers has made this recipe using an Instant Pot. She provided her instructions in the very first comment on this recipe below in the Comment Section.
Recipe Tools Used in this RecipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 614kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 30g
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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
5 from 21 votes
Recipe Rating




Bri

Tuesday 23rd of May 2023

I have made this recipe multiple times. It is delicious. Thank you!

staysnatched

Tuesday 6th of June 2023

I'm glad you enjoy it!

Kayla

Monday 24th of April 2023

Made this for dinner this week - what a good choice. I doubled it so we could have it for a few nights. Keeps well in the fridge and my daughter, who is only a year and half, loves it! lately she's been throwing a lot of her food, so to have her finish her entire serving is great. Thank you!

staysnatched

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.

Jessica

Sunday 2nd of April 2023

Made this recipe today after a long weekend of packing. It was amazing and the ultimate comfort in a bowl. 10/10 recommend.

staysnatched

Wednesday 5th of April 2023

I'm so glad you recommend it!

diane

Saturday 18th of March 2023

I haven't made this yet, but I will. What I can't understand is why do you put the meat, onions and seasoning in first and then drain the meat. Doesn't the seasoning drain with the grease? I also add my onion and seasoning after I brown the meat.

staysnatched

Saturday 18th of March 2023

No, and you only drain the meat if thereโ€™s excess.

Penny

Friday 17th of March 2023

This. is. DANGEROUS! I scrolled through this post on IG, went to the recipe page, saw Ihad all the ingredients and showed my husband this is what we are having for dinner tonight. Oh my gosh this is perfect. Doesnt look quite like the picture (we may have over measured the cheese) but the flavor does not dissapoint!

staysnatched

Friday 17th of March 2023

I'm glad you enjoyed it!