Description
A quick, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring ground beef, pasta, salsa, and melted cheese with authentic taco flavors. Ready in about 20 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20 lean recommended)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces (225g) elbow macaroni or shells
- 1 packet (28g) taco seasoning (mild or hot)
- 1 cup (240g) salsa
- 1/2 cup (120ml) low-sodium beef broth
- 1 1/2 cups (150g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup (50g) Mexican blend cheese, shredded
- Salt for pasta water
- Optional: 1 can black beans, 1/2 cup corn, 1/2 cup jalapeños
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Dice onion, mince garlic, and shred cheese.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Do not rinse pasta.
- While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Add diced onion to the beef and cook for 2 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Reduce heat to medium. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the beef and stir. Add salsa and beef broth, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Remove skillet from heat. Gradually add shredded cheese, stirring constantly until melted and creamy. Add reserved pasta water if the mixture is too dry.
- Serve immediately with desired toppings like cilantro, avocado, sour cream, or extra salsa.
Notes
Save the starchy pasta water to help thicken the sauce. Remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent it from becoming grainy. Use fresh shredded cheese rather than pre-shredded for better melting. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy; store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat gently with a splash of milk or broth.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: taco pasta, ground beef skillet, one pan dinner, weeknight meals, cheesy pasta, easy dinner, family friendly