Taco Pasta One Pot
This Creamy Taco Pasta Recipe is a 30-minute meal you can make in one pot! Pasta shells are smothered in cheesy taco sauce with ground beef and tomatoes, perfect for a quick and comforting dinner.
Ingredients
- - 1 cup Cheddar cheese shredded
- - 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese shredded
- - 4 oz. Velveeta cheese cut into cubes (equal to 1/3 cup)* (or sub with ¾ cup shredded cheese)
- - 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 temp
- - 1 10 oz. can Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- - ½ lb. Medium pasta shells see notes
Instructions
- Prepare the Cheese: Shred the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese from a block and set aside. It should be near room temperature when added to the pasta sauce.
- Cook Ground Beef: Cook and crumble the ground beef over medium-high heat in a high-walled pot or Dutch oven. Drain grease.
- Cook Garlic: Melt the butter in the same pot and add garlic. Cook for 1 minute.
- Combine Ingredients: Add all remaining ingredients except the cheese and pasta. Stir to combine.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring to a gentle boil. Add the pasta and submerge it in the liquid. Cover and cook according to package instructions. Stir halfway through to prevent sticking.
- Check Doneness: Remove the cover and ensure the pasta is sufficiently cooked. Taste-test a noodle for doneness. If needed, cover and cook longer.
- Melt the Cheese: Turn heat to low. Gradually stir in cheese until melted. The sauce will be plentiful but will thicken as it stands.
- Serve: Serve the pasta once the desired consistency is obtained.
Notes
- This recipe makes a lot of sauce; feel free to use slightly more than ½ lb. of pasta.
- All chicken broth or all beef broth can be used instead of a combination, if preferred.
- Shred cheese from a block for the creamiest consistency; bagged shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well.
- Other pasta shapes, such as rotini, penne, or bow tie pasta, may be used. Adjust cooking time based on the pasta package instructions.
- Diced or shredded chicken can replace ground beef. Mix it in at the end of cooking to avoid toughness.
- Optional ingredient additions: corn, bell peppers, black beans, jalapeños.