Description
Cheesy Taco Pasta is a quick 30-minute dinner with tender pasta, seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, Rotel tomatoes, and a creamy taco-style sauce perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 (10 ounce) can Ro-tel diced tomatoes and green chilies with juices
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional garnish chopped scallions and cilantro
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook pasta according to package directions until al dente
- While pasta cooks brown the ground beef with chili powder cumin garlic powder and smoked paprika in a skillet over medium high heat for about 8 to 10 minutes
- Add chopped red bell pepper once the beef begins to brown and cook until slightly softened
- Drain most of the excess fat if necessary
- Add the Ro-tel tomatoes with juices cheddar cheese and heavy cream and cook until the cheese melts and sauce is creamy
- Drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce until evenly coated
- Season with salt and pepper to taste and garnish with scallions or cilantro if desired
Notes
- You can use prepared taco seasoning instead of the individual spices
- Sharp cheddar cheese gives the best flavor and melts smoothly
- Add a splash of cream when reheating leftovers to keep the sauce creamy
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg