Taco Pasta Recipe

This cheesy taco pasta dish makes a satisfying family dinner, perfect for busy weeknights. It's a delicious marriage of classic taco and pasta flavors that everyone will love. The hearty homemade pasta is so much better than the Hamburger Helper version!

The one-pot Taco pasta is an easy dinner, that will be requested again and again. This taco pasta recipe is perfect for taco night and can be made in about 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights. The meal is also a great choice when some of the family wants tacos and others prefer to have pasta.

How to Make Taco Pasta

Let's make this yummy comfort food meal! Follow along here for step-by-step directions to make the easy taco pasta, complete with pictures, or hop down to the printable recipe card below.

The recipe makes 8 servings.

Prep time: 10 mins | Cooking time: 25 mins | Total time: 35 mins

Ingredients Needed For Ground Beef Taco Pasta

Here is everything you need to make the cheesy taco pasta:

• 1 pound (16 ounces) shell pasta, (penne pasta, spaghetti, rotini, elbow macaroni or bow tie pasta are also good choices, pasta shape is really not important for this recipe)
• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion, diced (yellow, sweet or white onion are all fine)
• Two packets of taco seasoning or 6 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
• 8 ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 ½ cups salsa (jarred salsa or fresh, either will work)
• 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
• 1 ½ cups (about 6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese (or Monterey Jack cheese) Freshly shredded cheese melts best, but pre-shredded will work. Shredded packaged cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can affect melting and texture, thus not ideal.
• salt and black pepper to taste

Optional garnishes: chopped cilantro, additional shredded cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, sliced green onion, lime wedges, green chiles or crumbled tortilla chips for crunch

Instructions

Step One

In a large pot of water (minimum 4 quarts), boil the pasta to al dente, following the package instructions.. Drain pasta water and set aside once cooked.

Step Two

In the same pot or skillet, add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook over medium heat until the beef mixture is browned and cooked through (around 8 minutes). Crumble the meat as it cooks.

Step Three

Drain any excess grease from the ground beef. Add the taco seasoning mix and tomato sauce to the beef.

Step Four

Add in the salsa and cream cheese. Simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes until the sauce is combined and creamy.

Step Five

Turn off the heat and add in the cooked pasta shells and the shredded cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted throughout. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step Six

Top with desired garnishes and serve immediately.

Recipe Variations

Cheesy taco pasta is the ultimate comfort food mash-up, bringing together the bold flavors of tacos with the creamy, satisfying texture of pasta, but the recipe can be adjusted to personal preferences. Here are a few recipe changes you may prefer when making the Mexican pasta dish yourself, so the whole family will love it.

• For faster preparation, prepare the beef sauce in a separate skillet while the pasta is cooking.
• Add a half can of drained rinsed black beans to the recipe for additional fiber. Whole wheat pasta is also a smart choice.
• Rather than beef opt for ground chicken or turkey. For a meatless meal use plant-based crumbles.
• Add thinly sliced bell peppers or Poblanos to the meat while cooking for a boost of veggies.
• For garlic lovers add one or two cloves garlic (¼-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder), minced to the taco meat while cooking.
• Make this recipe gluten-free, by selecting a gluten-free pasta and taco seasoning (or make your own seasoning).
• Turn up the heat, by swapping in Pepper Jack cheese or adding a splash of hot sauce to the pasta.
• Swap sour cream for the cream cheese, if that is what you have on-hand. As it is wetter, you may need to cook the taco pasta an extra minute to absorb and evaporate that.
• No Taco seasoning? Make your own: Use 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon each of cumin, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder, along with a generous pinch of dried oregano.
• If you feel you need a little more liquid for the cooking (perhaps the pasta was under done before adding to the taco mixture), add a splash of beef broth or chicken broth.

Cheesy Taco Pasta

This easy taco pasta recipe features lean ground beef, tangy sour cream, and plenty of shredded cheese, creating a rich and flavorful sauce that coats every bite. For extra flavor and nutrition, try adding diced tomatoes, bell peppers, or even a sprinkle of chili powder for a little heat. The beauty of cheesy taco pasta is how customizable it is—top it with your favorite taco toppings like extra cheese, fresh cilantro, or crunchy tortilla chips for a meal the whole family will love. Using high-quality ingredients like real shredded cheese and lean ground beef ensures your cheesy taco pasta is both delicious and satisfying every time you make it.

What To Serve With Taco Pasta

Of course most things you would put on a taco will taste pretty good on this pasta, but what what else goes well with it? Here are some options:

Toppings: Popular toppings for taco pasta include sour cream, avocado, fresh cilantro, chopped onion, diced bell peppers, crumbled tortilla chips and sliced pickled jalapeños. These allow everyone to customize their serving for extra flavor and spice. Try a nice big scoop of my seasoned sour cream over this taco pasta.

For a starter, I recommend a garden salad with Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing, Mexican Sopes or some crispy Southwest Egg Rolls. My Jalapeño Cornbread would be a delicious pairing too.

To drink, a refreshing Strawberry Horchata will stay on the Mexican theme, though a nice glass of Peach Iced Tea would be lovely as well. For the grown-ups, a tropical Pineapple Mojito would be fantastic.

For Dessert, some Tres Leches Cupcakes would be a delicious choice, as would my easy Mexican Fried Ice Cream!

Storage Tips

Store leftover pasta in a sealed airtight container, promptly after it has cooled off to room temperature. The taco pasta will last in the fridge for 3-4 days. For longer term storage, freeze the pasta for up to 3 months.

If you enjoy this one -pot pasta meal, be sure to check out my Cajun Chicken and Sausage Pasta Recipe and Chicken Fajita Pasta Recipe as well! Either is great as a weeknight dinner.