Description
This Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta is a delicious one-pot meal combining seasoned ground beef with shell pasta and a blend of melted Monterey jack and cheddar cheeses. Inspired by taco flavors, this American-Mexican fusion dish promises a creamy, cheesy, and hearty dinner the whole family will love, prepared in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Seasoning
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried minced onion
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
Liquids and Base
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel brand preferred)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 ½ cups whole milk, divided
- 1 cup water
Pasta and Cheese
- 8 oz shell pasta
- 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Beef: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, combine the ground beef, ground cumin, dried minced onion, and garlic powder. Cook and stir until the beef is fully browned and seasoned evenly. Drain excess fat to reduce grease.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes with green chilies, beef broth, and 1 cup of whole milk. Mix well and bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat to blend the flavors.
- Cook the Pasta: Add the shell pasta to the boiling mixture. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the pasta is tender. Cooking times may vary; refer to the pasta package for guidance.
- Finish with Cheese: Lower the heat to low. Stir in the shredded Monterey jack cheese, shredded mild cheddar cheese, and the remaining ½ cup whole milk. Stir continuously until the cheese melts completely, resulting in a creamy, smooth taco pasta.
- Serve: Serve the cheesy beef taco pasta warm for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For best results, shred your own cheese instead of pre-shredded for better melting.
- There is no need to add salt during cooking because the beef broth provides adequate seasoning.
- Reserving half a cup of whole milk helps keep the pasta sauce smooth and creamy when melting the cheese.
- Store leftover cheesy beef taco pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- See the original post for ingredient substitution suggestions and dietary modifications.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keywords: cheesy beef taco pasta, taco mac and cheese, one pot taco pasta, ground beef pasta recipe, quick family dinner, taco hamburger helper copycat
