Most of us have had that classic “American Taco Night”. You assemble your own tacos with things like seasoned ground beef, cheese, and salsa. This One Pot Taco Pasta is inspired by those tacos, but swaps out the tortilla for pasta instead.
This dish also cooks entirely in one pot! The only prep required is chopping an onion, mincing garlic, and grating cheese. Otherwise, just dump your ingredients in the pot and 30 minutes later you’ll have a big batch of One Pot Taco Pasta that your whole family will love! Let me show you how to make it.
One Pot Taco Pasta Ingredients
- 2 lbs Ground Beef
- 2 packets Taco Seasoning or about 4-6 tbsp; use store-bought or homemade
- 1 Yellow Onion diced
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 4 oz Green Chiles I used 1 can of chopped green chilies; mild or hot depending on spice preference
- 16 oz Salsa I used 1 jar of chunky medium-heat Pace Salsa
- 4 cups Chicken Broth low-sodium; add more broth or water as needed
- 1 lb Pasta uncooked; I used medium shells
- 8 oz Cheddar Cheese freshly grated
- 8 oz Monterey Jack Cheese freshly grated
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Cilantro optional; to serve
Recipe Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break into pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 3 minutes until the meat starts to brown. Mix in the taco seasoning and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the chopped onion and stir to combine. Cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the minced garlic and can of green chiles and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the jar of salsa and chicken broth then bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the uncooked pasta and stir to combine. Cover with a lid and cook until the pasta is al dente. This took about 15 minutes. Uncover and stir every few minutes so the pasta doesn’t stick together. Add additional chicken broth or water as needed if the liquid absorbs before the pasta is cooked through.
- Once the pasta is cooked, uncover, and turn the heat to low. Mix in the freshly grated cheeses. Stir until well-combined and melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper as needed.
- Divide among bowls to serve. Optionally sprinkle with cilantro.
Did you try this One Pot Taco Pasta? Leave a Review!
This recipe is easy to make, requires minimal prep/cleanup, and is perfect for the whole family. Adjust the spice level with the type of taco seasoning, green chiles, and salsa you use. Even add in some dashes of hot sauce for extra heat if desired! Switch out the types of cheeses for a fun twist. I love cilantro so I served with a generous sprinkle, but omit or swap with parsley if you don’t enjoy cilantro. You could also mix in additional taco ingredients such as chopped tomatoes or sprinkle with some crumbled tortilla chips.
If you try this recipe, feel free to rate/leave a review. You can also tag me on Instagram or TikTok!
One Pot Taco Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Ground Beef
- 2 packets Taco Seasoning or about 4-6 tbsp; use store-bought or homemade
- 1 Yellow Onion diced
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 4 oz Green Chiles I used 1 can of chopped green chilies; mild or hot depending on spice preference
- 16 oz Salsa I used 1 jar of chunky medium-heat Pace Salsa
- 4 cups Chicken Broth low-sodium; add more broth or water as needed
- 1 lb Pasta uncooked; I used medium shells
- 8 oz Cheddar Cheese freshly grated
- 8 oz Monterey Jack Cheese freshly grated
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Cilantro optional; to serve
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break into pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 3 minutes until the meat starts to brown. Mix in the taco seasoning and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the chopped onion and stir to combine. Cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the minced garlic and can of green chiles and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the jar of salsa and chicken broth then bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the uncooked pasta and stir to combine. Cover with a lid and cook until the pasta is al dente. This took about 15 minutes. Uncover and stir every few minutes so the pasta doesn't stick together. Add additional chicken broth or water as needed if the liquid absorbs before the pasta is cooked through.
- Once the pasta is cooked, uncover, and turn the heat to low. Mix in the freshly grated cheeses. Stir until well-combined and melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper as needed.
- Divide among bowls to serve. Optionally sprinkle with cilantro.
Video
@carolbeecooks One Pot Taco Pasta 🌮 Save this video for a night you want a hearty dinner without doing many dishes! #onepot #pasta #tacopasta #onepotpasta ♬ cooking video – cooking
