Chelsea's Messy Apron

Simple, healthy recipes without sacrificing taste!

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One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

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A cheesy taco pasta dish with taco seasoned ground beef, taco sauce, corn, and plenty of cheese that comes together all in one pot – even the pasta gets cooked in the same pot!

A cheesy taco pasta dish with taco seasoned ground beef, taco sauce, corn, and plenty of cheese that comes together all in one pot - even the pasta gets cooked in the same pot! chelseasmessyapron.com

Yep. You read that introduction right – all in ONE pot, even the pasta. This dish could not be any simpler – especially when you consider the only dish that needs to be cleaned is the pot.

Oh, and if you choose to use plates. That is, if this dish even makes it to plates…

For me, it didn’t…

One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

I shared a couple days ago my obsession with cookies, but I think I am about equally obsessed with one-pot/one-pot meals. When a dinner comes together super quick and dirties minimal dishes, it’s a beautiful thing.

And the one pot dinner can be healthy too! Like my one pot quinoa & vegetable dish. That was healthy & easy perfection.

This dish = cheesy perfection. Because, as you can see, there is no skimping on the cheese in this cheesy taco pasta!

Ready for a step-by-step photo to see how EASY this is? I gotcha covered:

One Skillet Pasta - step by step

Told you it was easy! There are basically two steps – cooking the ground beef and then adding in all the other ingredients to let it simmer. Make sure to watch the dish so the noodles don’t get stuck to the bottom of the pot. Especially if you don’t have a non-stick pot – you will want to stir the ingredients a couple times during the whole simmering process.

I’d also be careful about substituting different kinds of pasta. The macaroni noodles cook quickly and work well in this dish. If you use larger noodles, it may take a bit longer and may require more water.

And finally, get creative with your toppings! Whatever you like on regular tacos will (probably) go great with this dish. I added some green onions which were great. Other thoughts: a dollup of sour cream, some diced tomatoes, or even a chopped up avocado.

One skillet, easy taco pasta

And here’s to hoping that an extremely delicious cheesy taco pasta (made in one pot) will make this weekend last longer. (You know, since you are saving all that time by NOT being in the kitchen!)

Have a great weekend everyone 🙂

4.92 from 23 votes
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One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

A cheesy taco pasta dish with taco seasoned ground beef, taco sauce, corn, and plenty of cheese that comes together all in one pot - even the pasta gets cooked in the same pot!

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Chelsea
Ingredients
  • 1 pound extra lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 cups water separated
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni 10 ounces
  • 1 cup taco sauce
  • 1 and 1/2 to 2 cups taco or Mexican shredded cheese
  • Optional toppings: green onions, sour cream, diced tomatoes, diced avocado
Instructions
  1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet.
  2. Drain the fat and add in the onion and garlic. Stir until fragrant - about 30 seconds to a minute on medium-high heat.
  3. Add in one cup of water, salsa, corn, and taco seasoning. Stir well and add in the uncooked pasta and taco sauce.
  4. Bring to a boil and then lower to low-medium heat and cover the skillet with a lid.
  5. Let simmer for about 5-7 minutes and then add in the last cup of water and stir everything together again. Return lid and let simmer until pasta is tender, about another 5-7 minutes.
  6. (If you don't have a nonstick skillet, you will need to stir this every 3-4 minutes so it doesn't stick to the bottom.)
  7. Remove from heat and sprinkle with cheese. Top with optional toppings of choice.
  8. Serve immediately.

More Easy Dinner Recipes:

One Pan Garlic Butter Shrimp and Sausage

Parmesan Chicken Pasta

A super easy and quick dinner — one skillet cheesy taco pasta
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Comments

  1. Oh my goodness, this looks so cheesy and gooey and yummy! I love that it’s one pot, too! Mmm. Pinning and making ASAP. Also. It’s still the 28th here in Seattle but your post says March 1st. So you’re posting from the future. Wow. 😉 Have a great weekend!

    Reply

    • Thank you Erin! And thanks for the pin 🙂 Okay that’s so cool haha it must be from time differences or something? But I’ll take the ability to post from the future since that sounds cooler 🙂 Thanks lady! You have a great weekend too and good luck with you running and shin splints!

      Reply

  15. Sounds like a winner – tasty, easy clean-up, and uses things we normally have on hand? Thanks for figuring out dinner at chez CakePants later this week!

    Reply

  16. This looks incredible Chelsea – love all these one skillet/pot meals – less mess is always a good thing 🙂 This cheesy taco pasta sounds like the perfect weeknight meal that my family would love!

    Reply

  21. Looks scrumptious! I made something very similar for my family and some friends and it was a real hit! Thanks for sharing on Recipe Sharing Mondays! HUGS

    Reply

  26. I rely a lot on peoples comments on recipes. To many times I thought it looked awesome only to be really disappointed. So many people said this recipe looked good and they couldn’t wait to try it but no positive on actually eating it. I am so glad I made this, it is AWESOME( quote from my 8 yr picky eater). Rave reviews from this family of 4. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe Chelsea, definitely a keeper:)

    Reply

    • Heather, thank you so much for your sweet comment and for trying out the recipe! This made my day! I hope you and your family are having a wonderful weekend 🙂

      Reply

  29. I LOVE this recipe! I added about a half of a can of black beans, just to up the fiber content and my family LOVED it! And we have a ton of leftovers. YUM YUM YUM!

    Reply

  30. I saw this last night for the first time on FoodGawker…instantly went home 20 mins later and made this, considering I had all the ingredients already at home…my oh my was this fantastic!!

    Served it to my brother, his gf, my bf and me, and it did not last! haha!

    I did substitute meat for Saitan meat considering im vegetarian, but wow, was it good! Not too hot, but just enough spice.

    Will def make again!!

    Reply

  31. This is absolutely delish. I made it tonite for the first time. It is a make again for sure! Thanks for sharing and great job creating it!!!

    Reply

  32. Made this tonight, and it was a huge hit with the entire family! Everyone asked for seconds! 🙂
    Sure to become a staple dinner in our house.
    Thank you!

    Reply

    • Oh yay! That is so great to hear 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to come and comment! Have a wonderful week Kaley!

      Reply

  34. I made this for myself for dinner tonight.
    1. It was delicious!
    2. I have enough left over to feed myself for the next few days!
    This is a great recipe. Thanks.

    Reply

  35. Looks delicious! Cant wait to try but can i ask what kind of salsa you used? Sorry, not ready to go pro making my own salsa lol, Thanks!

    Reply

    • Thanks Lisa! I just used a store-bought salsa 🙂 You can choose your own heat preference – I use medium when I make this dish!

      Reply

  36. I just made this for dinner, found it on pinterest .. The best thing I have ate in such a long time! I was looking and tons of other foods on here as well, I am so excited to starting cooking these recipes thank you so much!!

    Reply

    • This comment made my day!! Thanks so much for taking the time – I’m so glad you really enjoyed it 🙂

      Reply

    • Hi Beth! I find taco sauce in the Mexican food section of the grocery store – near enchilada sauces, refried beans, hard-shell taco shells, canned green chiles, etc. The best way I know how to describe it is a sauce kind of like enchilada sauce – you get it in the small packets at places like Taco Bell. Here’s a link to a picture of taco sauce: http://www.ortega.com/products/ortega-taco-sauce-mild-8-oz_15360 Hope that helps!

      Reply

  39. Found this on pinterest, made it tonight with whole wheat noodles and it was Delicious! We all had a second helping!

    Reply

    • The pasta gets cooked in the skillet with the other ingredients – no need to cook it beforehand.

      Reply

  41. Is there something else you can sub the taco sauce for or even just leave it out? I hate taco sauce, ever since I was a kid and got some on my sleeve and had to smell it all day and just made me sick.

    Reply

    • I haven’t tried this recipe substituting the taco sauce for anything else, so I can’t say for sure, but perhaps some salsa would work in its place? Sorry to not be of more help!

      Reply

  42. Sometimes there is no better feeling than making something new for dinner and your kid actually likes it!!! It was so easy and yummy, thank you!!

    Reply

  43. Was looking for something easy to make for dinner tonight that wasn’t just the usual tacos. This was a hit!! Easy recipe and tastes delicious! 🙂 I didn’t have taco sauce so I just added more salsa and it seems to have worked well! 🙂
    Thanks so much for sharing, Chelsea!

    Reply

    • Awesome!!! So happy to hear it 🙂 And yes, salsa sounds like a great substitute! Thank you so much for the comment and review Jenni! 🙂

      Reply

  44. Hi Chelsea and everyone. I was so busy today that I didn’t give a thought to supper…when it dawned on me I kinda panicked but this recipe saved the day. I had to make some tweaks out of necessity but it still was so wonderful. I didn’t have taco sauce so I subbed in chili sauce, only had a half packet of taco seasoning, half the corn…added siracha. Oh boy this is going to go into the winter comfort food rotation. Very delicious…thank you for sharing this.

    Reply

    • YAY!! So happy to hear it makes the dinner rotations 🙂 I’m so glad you were able to make it work with what you had and get dinner ready even with a super busy day — that’s awesome!

      Reply

  45. I made this last night on a whim, we were not disappointed! Yummm! Will make this again. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    Reply

  46. I was looking for something quick and different for dinner tonight, and this recipe did not disappoint! I added some diced red bell pepper to up the veggie factor, but that was the only change. The family loved it!

    Reply

    • Thanks so much for trying them out and leaving a comment, I appreciate it! 🙂 So glad you enjoyed this! 🙂

      Reply

  48. Made this for dinner tonight and loved it!! Really easy to make and super delicious!!! Only note- it takes longer than 15 minutes… I’d say a little over 1/2 an hour start to finish. E

    Reply

  49. Holy yummy! Used ground turkey because it’s what I had in the fridge. I’m not a huge fan of taco sauce so that scared me a bit but it was awesome. Totally. Will be making Again. and again! My toddler ate two helpings!! This is better than spaghetti. Used rotini noodles. May add black beans next time. Love!!

    Reply

    • Yay! That is so great to hear this dish was so well enjoyed in your home! Thank you so much for the comment Lisa!

      Reply

  51. Made this tonight. My 7 year old and 2 year old who are picky eaters downed it all! Loved it too with a beer on the side 😉 Thanks you so much for this quick, easy, yummy recipe, and especially the easy clean up!!

    Reply

  52. I found this recipe on Pinterest, and usually I don’t have luck with Pinterest recipes, but this came out pretty damn good. Boyfriend loved it and he’s a picky eater, we both had seconds. I followed the recipe exactly as written and have enough left-overs for another meal for the two of us. Can this be frozen for another day?

    Reply

    • I’m so happy you enjoyed this dish! I’ve never tried freezing it, so I can’t say for sure, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Wish I could be of more help!

      Reply

  53. Oh. My. Gosh!!! This was the first meal in a very long time I went back for seconds! Thank you for a delicious, quick dinner! Side note: vegetarian Boca meat and water instead of taco sauce is still unbelievably delicious. ?

    Reply

  54. Been making this for about a year. I have this page bookmarked on my phone for every time I make it. My fiancé loves it. We call it taco mac. Thanks for the recipe 🙂

    Reply

  55. I make this all the time. Found it last year and it’s been a favourite in our house. Tonight I’m trying it with chicken as I had some leftover. Can’t wait for dinner.

    Reply

  56. I have made this several times, this last time with venison. It is absolutely delicious and the fewer pots I have to dirty the better! Thank you!!!

    Reply

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