Description
This one pot Taco Pasta recipe combines seasoned ground beef, a cheesy sauce, and tender pasta shells for a quick, comforting meal packed with bold flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 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 use.
- Cook Beef: In a large pot over medium heat, cook and crumble the ground beef until fully browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Prepare Sauce: Add the butter to the pot and melt it. Stir in the minced garlic and cook briefly until fragrant. Mix in the taco seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste. Pour in the beef broth, chicken broth, whole milk, and undrained Rotel tomatoes, then bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Add Pasta: Stir in the pasta shells, cover the pot with a lid, and cook, stirring halfway through, until the pasta is tender and cooked through, about 15-20 minutes.
- Melt Cheese: Reduce the heat to low, gradually add the shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Velveeta cheeses, stirring continuously until the cheese has fully melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Serve: Adjust the sauce consistency with a splash of milk or broth if needed, then serve the taco pasta hot.
Notes
- This recipe makes a lot of sauce, so feel free to add more pasta if you prefer a saucier dish or want to stretch the servings.
- You can use all chicken broth or all beef broth depending on your flavor preference.
- Shredding cheese from blocks rather than using pre-shredded improves melting and texture.
- Try different pasta shapes such as rotini or elbow macaroni for variety.
- Optional add-ins include cooked chicken, corn, diced bell peppers, or black beans for extra flavor and nutrition.
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
