Description
This one-pot Taco Pasta recipe combines seasoned ground beef, a creamy cheesy sauce, and tender pasta shells for a quick and delicious dinner. With melted cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Velveeta cheeses, plus a flavorful mix of taco seasoning, tomato paste, and Rotel tomatoes, it’s a hearty and satisfying dish perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 4 oz. Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes (or 3/4 cup shredded cheese)
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 lb. Ground Beef (85% lean)
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 oz. packet Taco Seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Tomato paste
- 1 cup Beef broth
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1 cup Whole milk, at room temperature
- 1 (10 oz.) can Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- 1/2 lb. Medium pasta shells
Instructions
- Shred Cheese: Shred the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and set them aside for later mixing.
- Cook Beef: In a large pot over medium heat, cook and crumble the ground beef until fully browned, then drain off the excess grease.
- Prepare Sauce: Melt butter in the pot, add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Stir in taco seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, beef broth, chicken broth, whole milk, and undrained Rotel tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Add Pasta: Add the pasta shells to the pot, cover with a lid, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the pasta is tender, stirring halfway through cooking to prevent sticking.
- Melt Cheese: Lower the heat to low, gradually stir in the shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Velveeta cheese cubes until completely melted and smooth.
- Serve: Adjust the sauce consistency by simmering longer if needed, then serve the taco pasta hot.
Notes
- This recipe tends to have a lot of sauce, so you can add more pasta if you prefer a saucier dish.
- You can substitute all beef broth or all chicken broth depending on your taste preference.
- Shredding cheese from a block provides better melting texture than pre-shredded cheese.
- Feel free to experiment with different pasta shapes or add-ins like corn, chopped bell peppers, or black beans for extra flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
