Description
This Taco Pasta recipe is a delicious one-pot meal combining seasoned ground beef, creamy cheese sauce, and tender pasta shells. Easy to prepare and packed with flavor, this comforting dish is perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 4 oz. Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes (or 3/4 cup shredded cheese)
Pasta and Sauce
- 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 temperature
- 1 (10 oz.) can Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- 1/2 lb. Medium pasta shells
Instructions
- Shred Cheese: Shred the Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese and set them aside along with the cut Velveeta cheese to prepare for melting later.
- Cook Beef: In a large pot, cook and crumble the ground beef over medium heat until fully browned. Drain the excess grease from the pot.
- Prepare Sauce: Add butter to the pot and melt it, then stir in the minced garlic. Mix in the taco seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, beef broth, chicken broth, whole milk, and undrained Rotel tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Add Pasta: Add the medium pasta shells to the boiling mixture. Cover the pot and cook, stirring halfway through, until the pasta is tender and cooked through, approximately 15 minutes.
- Melt Cheese: Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the shredded cheeses until fully melted and the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Serve: Adjust the sauce consistency by adding a splash of milk or broth if necessary, then serve hot and enjoy your flavorful taco pasta.
Notes
- This recipe makes a generous amount of sauce; feel free to add more pasta if you prefer a saucier dish.
- You can substitute all beef broth or all chicken broth based on your flavor preference.
- Shredding cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded will help it melt better.
- Try different pasta shapes for variety or add mix-ins like corn, diced bell peppers, or black beans for extra texture and nutrition.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
