Craving something delicious that's still easy to make? This Beef Taco Pasta is the perfect dish! It's full of flavor, and it can be made in just 25 minutes! Try out this flavorful dinner recipe or customize it by adding different veggies or using chicken instead – the possibilities are endless! Enjoy this mouthwatering dish today and tantalize your taste buds with Mexican-inspired flavors.
*This post has been updated from an earlier version to include new photos and a few tweaks to the original recipe to make it even more scrumptious!*
I hope you enjoy this recipe! ❤️ If you give it a try, please let me know how it turned out for you in the comments section at the bottom of the page or share a pic of your om noms on Instagram and tag @dishesanddustbunnies! ❤️
What is Beef Taco Pasta?
Imagine combining the savory delight of ground beef tacos with the heartiness of pasta in a dish that bursts with Mexican flavor. That's precisely what our easy ground beef taco pasta recipe delivers – a perfect blend of taco flavors, fresh veggies, and pasta that comes together in mere minutes, making it an ideal choice for a delicious dinner any night of the week.
This scrumptious dish captures the essence of taco Tuesday in every bite, adding a twist to traditional pasta recipes. It indulges you with an enticing fusion of hamburger helper and Mexican spices, turning a regular meal into a fantastic culinary experience. Our easy taco pasta recipe is a an amazingly versatile recipe that incorporates fresh vegetables, delectable seasonings, and perfectly cooked ground beef to create a satisfying meal for which your taste buds will thank you.
What Ingredients are used to make this Beef Taco Pasta recipe?
This cheesy taco pasta recipe uses simple ingredients such as ground beef, diced onions, garlic powder, taco seasoning, corn, salsa, tomato paste, beef broth, bow tie/farfelle pasta and shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Once you're ready to serve, add toppings such as green onions, chopped cilantro, sliced pickled jalapeños, etc. I've included a list of other topping ideas further down in this post.
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
How to make Beef Taco Pasta – Overview
You can find the full recipe details, including ingredient amounts and the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but first, here's a quick overview of how to make this delicious taco pasta recipe!
Begin by cooking your pasta according to package directions (cook pasta al dente), drain and set aside. Next, brown lean ground beef in a skillet or large pan and drain any excess fat. Add diced onions, salsa, tomato paste, taco seasoning, garlic powder, corn, and beef broth.
Bring everything to a boil and then turn the heat down to a simmer and let the liquid reduce a bit. Once the liquid has reduced a bit, add the cooked pasta. Mix everything until well combined.
Take the skillet off the heat and put a lid on. Allow to sit for about 5 min before serving. Serve taco pasta with shredded cheese sprinkled over top – it's especially delicious when the cheese melts over top!
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
Alternate Cooking Instructions:
Slow Cooker – Start by browning the ground beef in a skillet or large pan and draining any excess fat. Add diced onions, salsa, tomato paste, taco seasoning, garlic powder, corn and beef broth. Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours. Then add cooked pasta, lid the slow cooker and cook another 15 minutes until pasta is done. Serve with shredded cheese sprinkled and other desired toppings.
Instant Pot – To make Beef Taco Pasta in an Instant Pot, start by setting the pot to the “saute” function. Add ground beef, diced onions, garlic powder, and taco seasoning. Saute until ground beef mixture is browned before adding salsa, tomato paste, corn, beef broth, and pasta. Close the lid of the Instant Pot and set to manual high pressure for 4 minutes. When done, quick release and serve with your favorite toppings! Enjoy!
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
Recipe Variations
Substitutions:
Taco Seasoning: Rather than using store bought taco seasoning for this recipe, you can use homemade taco seasoning – try my recipe!
You could also swap out the taco seasoning for chopped jalapenos or green chilies, diced onion (or a little onion powder), garlic powder, and chili powder to add extra flavor.
Different Pasta: Instead of using the bow tie/farfalle pasta like I did for this recipe, you could try using other pasta, such as elbow macaroni or shell pasta.
Different Meat/Protein: For a tasty twist, why not switch the ground beef in this recipe for something else? Try black beans, pinto beans, grilled chicken, ground turkey, or ground chicken instead. Any ground meat will work nicely! For a vegetarian version, you could use imitation beef crumbles.
Add other veggies: You can add more veggies to this besides corn! Stir in chopped red or green bell peppers, or even zucchini! Or try adding some chopped jalapenos for a spicy kick. Enjoy!
Instead of tomato paste, you can use tomato sauce. If you use tomato sauce or pasta sauce, you'll likely need to allow a little more time for the sauce to reduce.
Instead of Salsa, you could try adding some rotel tomatoes! if you do, you might want to add a little more taco seasoning to the recipe!
Make it spicier: add crumbled chorizo, some cayenne pepper or some chopped chilis to give your taco pasta more of a kick! The dish is super tasty served with hot sauce sprinkled on top!
Try different cheeses: I enjoy using shredded aged sharp cheddar cheese with this recipe, but you can try using any blend you like! Monterey jack cheese works well with this recipe! You could even try adding some cream cheese to the sauce to make it even more creamy. Experiment and find the combination that works best for you! Enjoy!
Topping Ideas: Below are some delicious toppings to take your taco pasta to the next level:
- chopped green onions
- chopped cilantro
- pickled jalapeño slices or other hot peppers
- sour cream
- diced or chopped tomatoes
- chopped bell peppers
- sliced avocados
- Sprinkle a handful of crushed tortilla chips on top for an added crunch. Crunchy tortilla chips made for a great topping for this absolutely delicious recipe!
- black olives
- pico de gallo
- hot sauce
- lime juice
Can I use Homemade Taco Seasoning instead of store bought for this recipe?
Yes, you can use homemade taco seasoning for this recipe! You can use my taco seasoning recipe if you like!
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Beef Taco Pasta
Leftover pasta should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
I often store leftover beef taco pasta in an oven-safe container and place it in the oven at a low temperature (covered) for 15 minutes or until heated through. This keeps the beef taco pasta just as delicious as when it was freshly made!
When reheating the pasta, you can add a little liquid like broth or water if it looks dry. Enjoy!
Can I freeze Beef Taco Pasta?
Yes, you can freeze leftover beef taco pasta! If you do, be sure to place it in an airtight container and store it for no longer than two months.
How Long is Beef Taco Pasta Good for?
When stored in the fridge and stored in an air tight container, beef taco pasta is good for up to three days.
When stored in the freezer in an air tight container, beef taco pasta should be good for up to 4 months.
What to Serve with Beef Taco Pasta
Beef taco pasta is great as a meal itself but you can serve it along with some sides if you like. Some delicious sides to go with it include a green salad, or roasted vegetables.
Toppings like sour cream, diced tomatoes, sliced avocado, and shredded cheese make the dish even more flavorful. Enjoy!
Other Recipes You'll Enjoy:
Easy Weeknight Beef Taco Pasta
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 3 tsp taco seasoning (You can always use more if you like!)
- 1 cup frozen corn
- ¾ cup chunky salsa (whatever spice level you prefer)
- 5 oz tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth (or water)
- 14 oz bow tie/farfelle pasta (you can also use macaroni noodles, pasta shells, etc)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Optional Toppings
- chopped green onions
- chopped cilantro
- pickled jalapeño slices or other hot peppers
- sour cream
- diced or chopped tomatoes
- chopped bell peppers
- sliced avocados
- black olives
- corn chips, crumbled tortilla chips, etc
- hot sauce
- lime juice
Instructions
- Cook your pasta according to package directions (al dente), drain and set aside.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet and drain any excess fat.
- Add diced onions, garlic powder, taco seasoning, corn, salsa, tomato paste and beef broth.
- Bring to a boil and then turn heat down to a simmer and let the liquid reduce a bit. About 10 minutes.
- Once the liquid has reduced a bit add the cooked pasta. Mix everything up until well combined.
- Take the skillet off the heat and put a lid on. Allow to sit for about 5 min before serving.
- Serve with your favorite toppings (green onions, cilantro, shredded cheese, jalapeño slices, etc).
Alternative Cooking Methods:
I find that the stove top method above produces the best results; however, if you'd like to use a different method, I've included the instructions below.
Slow Cooker – Start by browning the ground beef in a skillet or large pan and draining any excess fat. Add diced onions, salsa, tomato paste, taco seasoning, garlic powder, corn and beef broth. Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours. Then add cooked pasta, lid the slow cooker and cook another 15 minutes until pasta is done. Serve with shredded cheese sprinkled and other desired toppings.
Instant Pot – To make Beef Taco Pasta in an Instant Pot, start by setting the pot to the “saute” function. Add ground beef, diced onions, garlic powder, and taco seasoning. Saute until ground beef is browned before adding salsa, tomato paste, corn, beef broth, and pasta. Close the lid of the Instant Pot and set to manual high pressure for 4 minutes. When done, quick release and serve with your favorite toppings! Enjoy!
Notes
NOTE: I prefer cooking the pasta separately than adding to the sauce, but to make this truly a one dish meal, you can cook the pasta in the sauce if you like. To use this method, add your pasta to the sauce towards the end of cooking for about 10 minutes with the lid on.
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Main
- Method: Skillet/Stove Top
- Cuisine: Mexican inspired
