Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta

Why you’ll love it

This taco pasta recipe is the perfect hybrid dish with hearty, filling pasta and loads of cheese. It’s also got a really meaty sauce, and that’s exactly how we like it… and with a touch of cream to round it all out in typical Salt & Lavender fashion! My homemade seasoning mix with tender ground beef can’t be beat.

This beef taco pasta is a fantastic kid-friendly weeknight meal in particular if you’ve got some fussy eaters in your home. It’s creamy, loaded with cheese, and effortless to throw together. Of course, these are all things that adults like too, so everyone is going to be happy with this spin on taco night.

What you’ll need

• Pasta – our kitchen chose shells since they’re the ideal shape to hold the sauce. They’re perfect little pockets. We’ve also tested with penne with great results.
• Ground beef – we’re using extra lean (96% lean) ground beef since you can then skip the step where you need to drain the fat, and it’s healthier overall. 
• Seasoning – my homemade taco seasoning blend has chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, and smoked paprika for all-out flavor
• Red bell pepper – it’s an easy way to sneak in a veggie and add some crunch
• Rotel tomatoes – they’re not just diced tomatoes; they have green chilies too! Original has a little kick, but you can use their mild variety if that’s a consideration.
• Cheddar – I chose a sharp cheddar and prefer to grate it myself for the best taste and texture vs. using the bagged shredded kind, but if you’re in a pinch, that’s ok too.
• Heavy cream – for that tasty creaminess in the sauce
• Scallions – optional but a burst of freshness. They’re a mild green onion, so the kiddos won’t mind it at all.

How to make taco pasta

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Cook the pasta al dente according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a skillet brown the ground beef with the taco seasoning blend. Break it apart, and then add in the bell pepper.

Stir in the tomatoes, cream, and cheddar. Cook until incorporated. Add in the drained pasta, toss, and season with salt & pepper. Garnish as desired, and enjoy.

Substitutions and variations

• Feel free to use the spicy variety of Rotel tomatoes if you do want a kick. For even more heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some crushed red pepper flakes.
• I recommend trying my homemade taco seasoning, but you can use a premade seasoning if you wish. However, be mindful of the salt content if you go that route so you don’t over-season this pasta.
• If you want this to be creamier, go ahead and add more cream! Conversely, you could leave it out if needed, but it does add moisture and completes the dish.
• Ground turkey would also work in this recipe in place of the ground beef.