One-Pot Taco Pasta Dish (Printable)

A comforting Tex-Mex dish combining beef, taco spices, pasta, and cheese all in one pot.

# What You’ll Use:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 1 small onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Spices & Seasonings

04 - 2 tbsp taco seasoning
05 - 1/2 tsp salt
06 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Pantry

07 - 2 cups beef or chicken broth
08 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
09 - 2 cups dry pasta (penne, rotini, or shells)

→ Dairy

10 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

→ Optional Toppings

11 - 1/4 cup sliced green onions
12 - 1/4 cup sour cream
13 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

# How-To:

01 - In a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet; cook until softened, approximately 3 minutes.
03 - Sprinkle taco seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the meat mixture; stir well to evenly coat.
04 - Pour in beef or chicken broth and diced tomatoes with juices, then stir in dry pasta.
05 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - Stir shredded cheddar cheese into the pasta until fully melted and creamy.
07 - Dish hot portions topped with sliced green onions, sour cream, and fresh cilantro as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's genuinely one pot—no colander, no separate skillet for the cheese sauce, just put it all together and trust the process.
  • The flavors meld in a way that feels intentional, like the pasta absorbs the taco spices while everything gets creamy and rich.
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes, which means weeknight dinner that doesn't feel rushed or disappointing.
02 -
  • Don't drain the tomatoes—their liquid is essential to cooking the pasta and building the sauce; skipping this step leaves you with dry, sad pasta.
  • Stir occasionally while simmering so the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot, which can happen quickly in the middle of cooking.
03 -
  • Brown the beef in a hot, dry pan first without crowding it; this builds flavor through proper browning instead of steaming.
  • Taste the dish before adding the full amount of salt and pepper, since taco seasoning already brings salt to the table.
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