Taco Pasta

Taco Pasta

All the bold, zesty flavors of taco night packed into one satisfying skillet of pasta. Seasoned ground beef, diced tomatoes, and melty cheese come together in a creamy, spiced sauce that coats every noodle. It's a weeknight crowd-pleaser that comes together in under 30 minutes — and only dirties one pan.

6 servings · Prep 10 min · Cook 20 min · Total 30 min

American · Tex Mex · Main Course · Dinner

  • 1 lb ground beef 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with juices
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning store-bought or homemade
  • 0.5 cup sour cream full-fat, stirred in at the end
  • 1.5 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend divided
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 stalks green onions thinly sliced
  • fresh cilantro roughly chopped
  • pickled jalapeños

Equipment

  • Stovetop
  • Skillet
  • Pot
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Lid
  • Measuring Cups
  • Knife
  • Pan
  • Cutting Board
  • Colander

Instructions

  1. Heat the @[Olive Oil] in a large, deep #[Skillet] over ^[medium-high heat]. Add the diced @[Yellow Onion] and cook for ~[3–4 minutes] until softened. Add the @[Ground Beef] and cook, breaking it up with a #[Wooden Spoon], until browned and no longer pink, about ~[5–6 minutes]. Drain excess fat if needed, then stir in the @[Minced Garlic] and cook for ~[30 seconds] until fragrant.
  2. Sprinkle the @[Taco Seasoning] over the @[Beef] mixture and stir to coat evenly. Pour in the diced @[Tomatoes with Juices], @[Tomato Sauce], and chicken broth. Stir everything together and bring to a boil.
  3. Add the dry rotini pasta directly into the #[Skillet]. Stir to submerge the pasta in the liquid, then reduce the heat to ^[medium]. Cover and cook, stirring every ~[3–4 minutes] to prevent sticking, until the pasta is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid, about ~[12–14 minutes]. Add a splash of broth or water if the pan looks too dry before the pasta is cooked through.
  4. Remove the #[Skillet] from the heat. Stir in the @[Sour Cream] and 1 cup of the @[Mexican Cheese Blend] until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of @[Mexican Cheese Blend] over the top and let it melt for ~[1–2 minutes]. Garnish with @[Green Onions], @[Cilantro], and @[Pickled Jalapenos] if desired. Serve straight from the #[Skillet].