Our mom is the source of all our cooking skills, but today we’re giving a nod to our dad. In true Leo fashion, he enjoys adding a bit of surprise to his cooking creations, regardless of the result. Once, he made a meatloaf with Grape-Nuts, and while our family was less than thrilled, he stands by his choice.
One of his more successful experiments involved tossing cooked pasta into chili, which was more imaginative than shocking. He appreciated the simplicity of having everything in one bowl, and thus, one-pot taco pasta was created.
We took inspiration from our dad’s pasta chili and crafted a more unified dish with bold taco flavors, savory ground beef, and tasty noodles. With some basic ingredients from the fridge and pantry, you can whip up this one-pot meal in just over 30 minutes.
One Pot Wonder
Is there anything better than a satisfying meal cooked in a single pot? With one-pot taco pasta, you don’t even need to cook the pasta separately. Just add enough liquid to cook the dry pasta right in the pot, allowing it to soak up the flavors. This approach makes for easy cleanup and minimal stress.
Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Tips and Tricks for One-Pot Taco Pasta
- Avoid overcooking the meat; it should brown but remain slightly pink as it will continue cooking with the pasta.
- Stir the pasta occasionally to ensure all noodles are submerged in the broth.
- Adjust the spices to your taste. Add more hot sauce if you like it spicy.
- After cooking, let the pasta sit a few minutes to thicken and meld flavors, a little patience goes a long way.
Recipe Variations
Mix up your pasta choices with shells, rotini, cavatappi, or fusilli. You can also include 1 cup of frozen or drained canned corn, or 1 1/2 cups of drained black beans with the tomatoes. Alternatively, stir in a 5-ounce bag of fresh baby spinach during the last cooking minute.
Try using different cheeses like pepper Jack, Colby Jack, or a Mexican blend. To make it vegan (or vegetarian), substitute with plant-based ground beef, vegetable broth, and vegan cheese shreds.
Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Serving and Reheating
This dish is perfect for leftovers! Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and reheat over medium-low heat in a pot with a bit of broth until warmed thoroughly, stirring occasionally.
Enhance your one-pot taco pasta with your favorite toppings like scallions, sour cream, jalapeños, red onion, lime, extra cheese, and chipotle hot sauce.
More One Pot Meals
This recipe uses salt to taste as taco seasoning and broth can vary in saltiness.
To make it vegan, switch to plant-based ground beef, vegetable broth, and vegan cheddar cheese. Gluten-free pasta can also be substituted.
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- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 pound lean ground beef (or 12 ounces if using Impossible Meat)
- 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning or 1-ounce packet taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilis
- 8 ounces elbow pasta
- 2 cups beef or vegetable broth
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce, optional
- Salt, as needed
Optional Toppings
- Green onions, chopped
- Sour cream
- Lime wedges
- Sauté the vegetables and ground beef: Heat a large pot over medium-high, add olive oil, and then onions and pepper. Cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Add ground beef, breaking it apart, cooking until mostly browned. Spoon off grease if desired.
- Add seasoning, tomatoes, pasta, and broth: Combine taco seasoning, paprika, cumin, tomatoes, and chilis. Stir the dry pasta and mix well. Add broth and bring to a boil.
- Simmer the pasta: Lower to a simmer with the lid on until pasta is cooked for about 13 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Mix in cheese, cilantro, and lime: Turn off heat, stir in cheese until it melts, then mix in cilantro, lime juice, and hot sauce. Taste and salt as needed. Let sit to thicken before serving with desired toppings.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Calories: 510
Fat: 24g
Carbs: 34g
Protein: 38g
