One-Pot Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta
This cheesy taco pasta cooks start to finish in one pot. With no straining. In just 30 minutes. And it includes everything you need for a delicious, well-rounded dinner that's sure to become a family favorite.
Equipment
- 1 Rondeau or other heavy-bottom pot
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika regular paprika is okay, too
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 14.5 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth Add ⅓-½ cup more either broth or water while cooking as needed
- 12 ounces fusilli rotini, penne, or other short pasta
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream Add gradually, starting with ½ cup until you reach desired consistency
- 4 oz colby jack or cheddar cheese
- Optional Garnish: sour cream, cilantro, avocado
Instructions
- Brown the beef over medium high for 3-5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium if needed.
- Add your aromatics and your spices: the diced onion, diced red bell pepper, minced garlic, oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper. Cook for another 5-7 minutes or until the onion goes translucent. Add the tomato paste and stir into the ingredients.
- Add chicken broth, can of tomatoes, and pasta. Stir.
- Bring the liquid to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until the pasta is just about cooked through, stirring every couple of minutes so the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Stir in cream and then simmer for another 1-2 minutes. Then stir in cheese.
- Please note: at this stage, there may still be quite a bit of liquid left in your pot. It’s perfectly normal. Pasta absorbs excess liquid – and fast! Extra liquid at this stage = extra creamy when you serve this (and go back for seconds… or thirds).
- Top with your favorite taco condiments: avocado, slices of jalapeno, diced onion, cilantro, sour cream, extra cheese. It’s all fair game!
Notes
Not all burners are created equal! Adjust heat as necessary.
Also, if you need, add more liquid ½ cup at a time, and stir into the pasta as it cooks. What we don't want is for the pasta to stick to the bottom of the pan.
If you accidentally use a heavy hand to add your liquid (been there, done that), it is okay to drain some of it off or tell everyone you just made taco noodle soup. Your secret is safe with me.
Need More Pasta Ideas?
Sausage Broccolini Pasta is delicious. Or try these YiBin Burning Noodles for something completely different!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!