Easy Taco Pasta Recipe - The Girl Who Ate Everything (2024)

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posted by Christy Denneyon Aug 29, 2022 (updated Sep 14, 2023) 118 comments »

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Taco Pasta is creamy, spicy and an easy Italian meets Mexican dinner. I love making this pasta when I want the whole family to be happy. A great recipe with simple ingredients for those busy weeknights full o taco flavor in a nice creamy sauce.

Easy Taco Pasta Recipe - The Girl Who Ate Everything (1)

EASY TACO PASTA RECIPE

Lately it’s been an all out drag down fight to get my kids to eat dinner.

The last three mealshave ended in a score ofParents 0 – Minions 3.

I gave up. I told my husband, “I think I’m boycotting cooking dinner this week.”

But then I made this pasta. Two of my kid’s favorite things in one dinner. Sure to be a hit. It’s like a Mexican version of Hamburger Helper with all the taco flavors.

Easy Taco Pasta Recipe - The Girl Who Ate Everything (2)

The other tip for success is to make sure your kids are starving. Or if you don’t have kids make sure your husband is starving.

Usually as I’m making dinner, the kids are ambushing the refrigerator without me looking (no wonder they never eat). But this time my husband had them outside in the hot tub for a pre-dinner swim.

Dinner was silent. Everyone was busy eating. It was fabulous. And my barely two-year-old ate more than my husband and I put together. My oldest son said that the shell pasta looked and tasted like miniature tacos. You can use any small pasta though.

This meal comes together really quickly and doesn’t require the oven so it doesn’t heat up your house. A-hem.Parents 1 – Minions 3.

Easy Taco Pasta Recipe - The Girl Who Ate Everything (3)

This easy recipe is versatile and a great way to switch up taco night. You can use any type of pasta here really and bulk it up with a can of black beans or sprinkle it with your favorite taco toppings.

OTHER TACO RECIPES:

  • Taco Salad Pasta
  • Taco Lasagna
  • Walking Tacos
  • Taco Pizza Rolls
  • Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Salsa
  • Taco Pasta Salad
  • Taco Party Bread
  • Easy Taco Pasta Casserole

Easy Taco Pasta Recipe - The Girl Who Ate Everything (4)

Taco Pasta

4.69 from 29 votes

This Taco Pastais creamy, spicy and an easy Italian meets Mexican dinner. I love making this easy pasta dish that the entire family loves.. A great way to switch up Taco Tuesday.

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef or ground turkey
  • 8-12 ounces medium pasta shells or any other shortpasta shapes, (about 3-4 cups dry)
  • 1 small onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 (14 ounces) can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies, drained (if making this for kids you might want to use just plain diced tomatoes)
  • 1 packet of taco seasoning, (4 tablespoons)
  • 3 ounces cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water. Set aside.

  • Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the ground meat over medium-high heat until no longer pink. A few minutes before the meat is cooked through, add the chopped onion to the skillet. Once the meat is cooked through, mix in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add in the diced tomatoes and taco seasoning and let simmer over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes.

  • Stir in the cream cheese, sour cream and reserved pasta water, and continue stirring until the cream cheese is melted and the sauce is well blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over medium-low heat 3-5 minutes to reduce the sauce a bit if it is still too thin. Add the cooked pasta a little at a time to the ground beef mixture. You may not need all of it. Stir to coat.

  • Toss in the fresh cilantro right before serving for some fresh color and flavor. Serve with a green salad.

Notes

slightly adapted from Fake Ginger

Serving: 1/6 of the recipe, Calories: 369kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 75mg, Sodium: 117mg, Potassium: 399mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 326IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 55mg, Iron: 2mg

Cuisine: Mexican

Course: Main Course

Author: Christy Denney

All Recipes Beef Cinco De Mayo Main Dishes Mexican Pasta Turkey

originally published on Aug 29, 2022 (last updated Sep 14, 2023)

118 comments Leave a comment »

100 of my favorite recipes! This is the family-friendly cookbook for anyone looking to plan quick-and-easy meals and wants a way to bring people together, feasting on food which can only be described as scrumptious.

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118 comments on “Taco Pasta”

  1. Kathy Reply

    I love your cookbook!

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Thank you! I appreciate it!

  2. Jen Reply

    Delicious! I was going to top mine with shredded cheddar, but the sauce is so good as is that I didn’t even need it. It was super easy to make too and I keep all the ingredients on hand so this will definitely be a regular dish!

    • Christy Denney Reply

      So glad you liked it!

  3. Kris Reply

    Super love it! Family loves it. This is a keeper for sure ❤️

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Aw thank you!

  4. B.Jones Reply

    Great recipe that doesnt call for velveeta but if you wanted to add it you could. I used penne. Looking forward to lunches with the left overs since those lil thick noodles absorb everything

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Thank you!

  5. Jen Reply

    Do you have calorie count and nutrition info for this recipe?

    • Christy Denney Reply

      I will add it now.

      • Shawn Reply

        In the nutrition section it says 1 serving is 1g? Im assuming incorrect. What would be the correct amount? Thank you

        • Christy Denney Reply

          that is a bug in the recipe card. It’s 1/6th of the recipe.

  6. Kim Hill Reply

    We really enjoyed this. I had a lot of leftover taco meat from an event, so used it to make this. The only change I made was to add about 4 oz. Monterey Jack cheese.

    • Christy Denney Reply

      So glad you liked it!

  7. Kevin Reply

    I added a can of black beans, it was amazing. Everyone loved it

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Yay!

Leave a comment »

Easy Taco Pasta Recipe - The Girl Who Ate Everything (2024)

FAQs

Who is the pasta lady? ›

Nadia Caterina Munno. Lover of Pasta, Drama and all things all'Italiana. NY Times & International bestselling author #thepastaqueencookbook.

How to jazz up boring pasta? ›

Fresh or dried herbs will also add flavor to pasta dishes.

"I use a lot of parsley, either fresh or even dried," Montillo said. "Oregano, garlic powder, onion flakes, black pepper all work well in a variety of sauces."

What is the queen of pasta? ›

Today's guest is Nadia Caterina Munno, the glamorous Dolce & Gabbana-wearing gourmet known to millions of fans as The Pasta Queen.

Where in Florida does The Pasta Queen live? ›

You might have spotted Nadia Caterina Munno's Clearwater house in one of her many videos on TikTok, where she whips up dishes like cacio e pepe and meatballs in purgatory. Nadia Caterina Munno, the self-proclaimed The Pasta Queen, in the kitchen of her home in Clearwater, Fla.

What to put on pasta when you have no sauce? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

What can I add to pasta to make it taste better? ›

Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Melt butter with garlic very slowly to avoid burning the garlic. Season with parsley, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until well coated with butter.

How do you pimp up pasta? ›

Garnish your pasta with a grating of lemon zest, some crunchy breadcrumbs or even a crumble of crispy bacon to add texture and taste. Herb it up. Experiment with lots of fresh herbs in your pasta dishes.

Who is The Pasta Queen on TikTok? ›

Celebrity chefs often have an identifiable catchphrase, and if you're a fan of the Pasta Queen, you'll know her simple trademark slogan: "Just gorgeous!" The Pasta Queen, whose real name is Nadia Caterina Munno, is the latest celebrity chef sensation, yet unlike a lot of chefs on The Food Network, Munno built her brand ...

Who is The Pasta Queen married to? ›

Munno uses her house as an important contributor to her image as a domestic goddess. In her videos, she showcases parts of the 7,821-square-foot, eight bedroom, six bathroom mansion she and her husband, Brook Zimmatore, 41, bought in Clearwater, Fla., for $1.1 million in 2016.

Who is the TikTok guy who makes pasta? ›

The Pasta Man (@mateo. zielonka) Official | TikTok.

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