Sizzling Taco Pasta Recipe: A Fiery Twist on Dinner Favorites

Craving a meal that packs a punch?

This crazy delicious spicy taco pasta recipe combines the best of two comfort food worlds.

Zesty Mexican-inspired flavors dance with hearty pasta in every single bite.

Spices swirl through each strand, creating a mouthwatering dish that’ll have everyone at the table begging for seconds.

Ground beef sizzles with bold seasonings, while perfectly cooked pasta catches every drop of rich, spicy sauce.

Cheese melts luxuriously over the top, adding a creamy finish that sends this recipe straight into crave-worthy territory.

Dinner just got a serious upgrade with this crowd-pleasing culinary adventure.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 7

What You’ll Need For Taco Pasta Recipe

• Pasta: Choose medium shells or rotini for perfect sauce-catching pockets, ensuring maximum flavor in each bite.

• Ground Beef: Select lean ground beef to reduce excess grease while maintaining rich, hearty flavor.
• Onion, Garlic: Fresh ingredients that build a robust flavor foundation, adding depth and aromatic notes.
• Taco Seasoning: Blend of warm spices that transforms ordinary meat into zesty, Mexican-inspired goodness.
• Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce: Provides tangy moisture and helps create a silky, clingy sauce.
• Broth: Adds liquid depth and helps tenderize the meat while boosting overall savoriness.

• Sour Cream: Creates luxurious, velvety texture and balances the spicy taco seasoning.
• Shredded Cheese: Melts beautifully, adding creamy richness and a golden, appetizing top layer.
• Cilantro, Jalapenos, Tortilla Chips: Optional fresh garnishes that introduce bright, crunchy, and spicy elements to elevate the dish.
• Olive Oil: Helps prevent sticking and initiates the flavor-building process during meat cooking.

Cooking Tools For Taco Pasta Recipe

• Large pot: Essential for boiling pasta and creating enough space for cooking.
• Large skillet: Perfect for browning ground beef and mixing ingredients.
• Colander: Crucial for draining pasta after cooking.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Helps stir and break up ground beef while cooking.
• Measuring spoons: Useful for accurate taco seasoning and ingredient portioning.
• Cheese grater: Optional, if using block cheese instead of pre-shredded.

Steps To Make Taco Pasta Recipe Quick And Easy

• Boil Pasta Perfectly

Grab a big pot and fill it with water. Sprinkle some salt into the water and bring it to a rolling boil. Toss in your pasta and cook until it’s tender but still has a little bite. Drain and set aside.

• Brown the Meat and Build Flavor

Heat a skillet and add a splash of olive oil. Crumble ground beef into the pan and cook until it’s nicely browned. Toss in diced onions and minced garlic, letting them soften and release their aromatic magic. Shake in taco seasoning, pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and a splash of broth. Stir everything together and let it simmer.

• Marry the Ingredients

Allow the sauce to bubble and thicken for a few minutes. Slide in the cooked pasta and toss until every noodle is coated with the zesty sauce. Kill the heat and swirl in sour cream and a handful of shredded cheese.

• Final Touches and Serve

Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and let it melt into a gooey blanket. If you’re feeling fancy, garnish with fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, or crunchy tortilla chips. Scoop into bowls and get ready for a flavor explosion!

Tips For Extra Flavor In Taco Pasta Recipe

• Make-Ahead Magic: Prep this taco pasta ahead of time by cooking the meat mixture and pasta separately, then refrigerate. When ready to serve, reheat and mix together with fresh cheese for a quick meal.
• Spice Control: Adjust the heat level by choosing mild, medium, or hot taco seasoning. For extra kick, add diced green chiles or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
• Protein Swap: Easily substitute ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based meat alternatives for a different flavor profile and dietary preference.
• Veggie Boost: Sneak in extra nutrition by adding diced bell peppers, corn, or black beans during the meat cooking stage for more texture and flavor complexity.
• Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free pasta and check that your taco seasoning is gluten-free to make this recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.

Ways To Serve Taco Pasta Recipe Warm

• Festive Taco Night Spread: Create a vibrant taco pasta bar with extra toppings like diced avocados, chopped green onions, and extra sour cream for guests to customize their plates.
• Hearty Weeknight Companion: Pair this pasta with a crisp side salad dressed in a zesty lime vinaigrette to balance the rich, meaty flavors and add freshness to the meal.
• Leftover Magic Remix: Transform extra taco pasta into a delicious quesadilla filling or stuff into bell peppers for a quick next-day lunch that reinvents the original dish.
• Crowd-Pleasing Potluck Star: Bring this dish to gatherings in a large casserole dish, topped with additional cheese and garnishes, making it an instant hit at family dinners or community events.

How To Store Taco Pasta Recipe For Later

• Fridge Fresh Storage: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Refrigerated taco pasta stays delicious for 3-4 days when sealed properly.
• Freezer Friendly Technique: Cool the dish completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 2 months, ensuring a tight seal to prevent freezer burn.
• Reheating Magic: Warm refrigerated pasta in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of broth to restore moisture. Microwave alternatively, stirring halfway through to distribute heat evenly.
• Smart Prep Strategy: Make double batches and portion into individual containers for quick weeknight meals. Label containers with date and contents for easy tracking and quick grab-and-go lunches.

Spicy Taco Pasta Recipe

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• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Hearty taco pasta blends Mexican and Italian cuisines into one delicious comfort meal. Spicy ground beef, melted cheese, and zesty seasonings create a quick weeknight dinner you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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• 1 lb (1 pound) ground beef
• 12 oz (12 ounces) pasta (penne, rotini, or shells)
• 1 oz (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 cup beef broth or water
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp cayenne (optional)
• Chopped cilantro
• Sliced jalapenos
• Crushed tortilla chips
• Diced avocado or guacamole

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Instructions

1. Pasta Preparation: Boil salted water and cook pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
2. Meat Foundation: Sauté ground beef in olive oil over medium heat, crumbling and browning evenly. Add onions and garlic, cooking until softened and aromatic.
3. Flavor Infusion: Sprinkle taco seasoning over meat mixture. Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and broth, stirring to create a rich, spicy sauce.
4. Sauce Melding: Simmer the mixture, allowing flavors to develop and intensify. Incorporate cooked pasta, ensuring complete coating with the robust sauce.
5. Creamy Transformation: Remove from heat and fold in sour cream, creating a velvety texture. Distribute half the shredded cheese throughout the dish.
6. Final Embellishment: Top with remaining cheese, letting it melt into a golden crust. Optionally garnish with cilantro, jalapeños, or crushed tortilla chips for added texture and zest.
7. Serving: Present immediately while steaming hot, showcasing this vibrant fusion of pasta and taco-inspired cuisine.

Notes

• Salt Water Strategically: Use kosher or sea salt when boiling pasta to enhance overall flavor depth and ensure perfectly seasoned noodles from the first step.
• Control Meat Moisture: Brown ground beef at medium-high heat, draining excess fat to prevent watery sauce and achieve a rich, concentrated meat flavor.
• Cheese Melting Technique: Allow residual heat to gently melt cheese for smooth, creamy texture without becoming grainy or separated.
• Customize Spice Levels: Adjust taco seasoning intensity by using mild, medium, or hot varieties to match personal heat preferences and dietary needs.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Mexican-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg