Cheesy Taco Pasta
This easy one-pot Cheesy Taco Pasta recipe is a great weeknight family dinner that can be made in under 30 minutes.
Equipment
- Large skillet, dutch oven or stock pot
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 16-20 ounces red enchilada sauce (a can or jar between 16 and 20 ounces will work, I tend to go closer to 20 for a saucier dish)
- 2 cups beef broth or stock* (chicken broth can also be used)
- 8 oz small to medium size dried pasta (rotini, penne and shells work well, approximately 2 cups)
- 4 oz cream cheese (cut into cubes )
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 1-2 cups corn (thawed if using frozen)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey or colby jack work well)
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sliced olives
- sliced green olives for garnish if desired
Instructions
- In a large pot or skillet (large enough to hold contents of entire recipe), over medium heat cook, cook ground beef until thoroughly browned. If desired you can add garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder or other taco type seasonings your like.
- Once meat is browned, add enchilada sauce, broth and pasta. Cover and bring to a simmer. Give a good stir every minute or so to avoid having any pasta stick to the pot.
- Cook for approximately 7-8 minutes then start checking the progress of the pasta*. When pasta starts to reach al dente, add in cream cheese and half and half, and stir well. Cover and allow to cook for 1-2 more minutes. Stir in corn, and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- When pasta is cooked to the texture you prefer, add in cheese, which can be stirred in or allowed to melt on the top. Sprinkle with any additional ingredients such as tomatoes, green onions or olives. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Remember this is a very flexible recipe, feel free to add other ingredients, swap ground beef for ground turkey, use chicken broth instead of beef broth, whatever you like!
Make sure to cover pasta while cooking. Because the pasta is cooking in the sauce and not a pot of water, it's important to retain all moisture.
*Some pasta lets off more starch than others and you may want to add a bit of extra liquid, be it broth, water or enchilada sauce.
Different shapes and brands of pasta cook at different rates. Some pastas may be completely cooked in 8-1o minutes, others may take up to 20.
As a rule of thumb, start checking your pasta for doneness around the 8 minute mark. I find that pasta usually takes slightly more time than stated on box, due to the fact it's being cooked in a a smaller amount of liquid.
Nutrition
Calories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 23gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 897mgPotassium: 440mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 802IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 124mgIron: 3mg
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.