One-Pot Taco Spaghetti. All the flavors you love about tacos in a one pot easy to make Mexican pasta casserole. Done in under 30 minutes this Taco Pasta is the perfect weeknight dinner!
One-Pot Taco Spaghetti
If you are looking for a simple under 30 minute dinner recipe then you are going to love this Taco Spaghetti. This cheesy pasta recipe is loaded with all the flavors of tacos mixed with spaghetti for a family friendly dinner that is done in 30 minutes!
When I need a dinner that I know everyone will love this has become a go to. It is easy to make and I only need one pan to cook it all.
This taco spaghetti recipe combines seasoned ground beef, onions, Rotel, pasta, and melted cheese for an easy to make Mexican inspired pasta casserole that the whole family will love.
This one pan taco spaghetti recipe couldn’t be easier to make. Everything is cooked in one pot which makes for super easy cooking and even easier clean up. This flavorful Tex-Mex pasta recipe will quickly become a family favorite dinner recipe that is perfect for the busy nights when you need a quick and tasty dinner.
Taco Inspired Recipes
What to Serve with Taco Spaghetti
For us, taco spaghetti is a meal in itself, but if you are looking for side dishes salad or bread is a great choice. When I make taco pasta for dinner I like to keep things quick and easy.
Variations of this Recipe
Add beans. If you want to add beans, black beans and kidney beans are great options. Add them in when you add the pasta.
Add more toppings. If you want to add more toppings diced tomatoes, lettuce, and black olives are great additional toppings. A few of my kids also like to mix in some sour cream with theirs.
Add more cheese. If you want more cheese the best way to do so is to pour the cooked taco pasta into a baking dish, add more cheese and bake it in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350°F. While this makes it a 2 dish meal sometimes that extra cheese is worth the extra dish.
Add veggies. If you want to add more veggies you can, green bell peppers, olives, tomatoes are all great addins.
Don’t want spice. If you don’t want any spice you can switch the Rotel for a can of roasted diced tomatoes instead.
Do I have to use Ground Beef?
You can use ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken in this recipe.
What is the best cheese to use?
I like using Mexican blend cheese but you can also use cheddar cheese, Colby jack or Monterey Jack cheese.
Can I use a different pasta?
I like using spaghetti noodles but you can also use any long noodle if you want the feel of spaghetti. If you are wanting to just use up things in the pantry you can totally make this using any other type of pasta including elbow noodles, rotini, penne or ziti noodles.
Tips for Making this Recipe
Cook time may vary. Depending on what type of pasta you are using it might take a little longer or a little shorter than the 15 minutes for the pasta to cook right. Just keep an eye on it if you are using anything other than spaghetti noodles when making this Mexican pasta.
Use homemade taco seasoning. You can use a packet of taco seasoning but I find you get much better flavor when you use homemade taco seasoning.
Double the recipe. If you are wanting to make a large batch of taco pasta then you can easily double the recipe and use a full pound of spaghetti.
How to Store Leftovers
Allow the pasta to cool completely and then store in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge and makes for excellent leftovers.
Can I make this ahead of time?
If you are wanting to meal prep and have easy lunches you can totally whip this up and then store it individually serving containers in the fridge. Then all you have to do is reheat them in the microwave when you want to eat it.
One-Pot Taco Spaghetti Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- ½ small onion, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 10 ounce can Rotel
- 8 oz uncooked spaghetti
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
How to Make One-Pot Taco Spaghetti
In a large skillet or dutch oven, add the oil, garlic, and onions. Cook over medium heat until the onions are translucent.
Add the beef to the pan and cook until the meat has been browned.
Stir in the taco seasoning and Rotel.
Top the mixture with spaghetti and pour in the water. Bring it up to a boil over high heat, make sure all noodles are under the liquid. Once it has come to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan, and cook for 15 minutes.
Stir in half of the cheese until well combined. Top with the remaining cheese and cilantro, cover for one minute to help the cheese melt.
Easy Pasta Recipes
- Baked Spaghetti
- Beef Stroganoff
- Sausage Baked Penne Pasta
- Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
- Olive garden chicken pasta
- Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
- Meatless baked Ziti
One-Pot Taco Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- ½ small onion chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 10 ounce can Rotel
- 8 oz uncooked spaghetti
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
Instructions
- In a large skillet or dutch oven, add the oil, garlic, and onions. Cook over medium heat until the onions are translucent.
- Add the beef to the pan and cook until the meat has been browned.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and Rotel.
- Top the mixture with spaghetti and pour in the water. Bring it up to a boil over high heat, make sure all noodles are under the liquid. Once it has come to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan, and cook for 15 minutes.
- Stir in half of the cheese until well combined. Top with the remaining cheese and cilantro, cover for one minute to help the cheese melt.
Comments & Reviews
Rebecca J Burr says
My first time making this and it was awesome. I will definitely make this again. Utterly delicious 😊😊
Jodie says
Easy and delicious