Cheesy Taco Pasta is a healthy, one-pan dinner recipe that brings together two fan favorites: pasta and tacos. It is an easy, one-pan meal that is loaded with Mexican flavors! Perfect for busy weeknights, ready in 30 minutes with super easy clean-up! BONUS!!
When I am planning meals for my family, I can pretty much guarantee that if I make either pasta or tacos it’ll be enjoyed by everyone! Even my four year old daughter, will clean her plate! 🤣 So when I came across this recipe from Wellplated I knew we had to give it a try!!
I made the recipe pretty much according to the original recipe but did make a few changes based on what we had on hand. I used green bell peppers and jalapenos (because we still have an abundance of them from the garden) and bumped up the spices a bit, since we like it spicy!
Here is your recipe for Cheesy Taco Pasta:
- 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lb. ground turkey, ground chicken or lean ground beef
- 1 sweet, yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed and diced
- 1 jalapeno ribs and seeds removed and diced
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced, grated or pressed
- 2 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp. chipotle chili powder
- 1 tsp. red pepper
- 1 tsp. coriander
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- sea salt & black pepper, to taste
- 1¾ cups water, plus more as needed
- 1 cup prepared salsa (hot, medium, mild, your favorite)
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1½ cups uncooked whole wheat pasta such as rotini, fusilli, penne, or shells
- 1 (15-ounce) can reduced-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided (colby jack, pepper jack would be great too)
- Your favorite taco toppings for serving: avocado, sour cream, cilantro, etc.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high.
- Add turkey, chicken or beef to the skillet, stir frequently and cook for about 5-6 minutes or until meat is starting to brown and almost cooked through
- Add onion, peppers and garlic to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes or until onion is beginning to soften.
- Add spices and cook about 30 seconds so they are fragrant.
- Add water, salsa, tomato sauce, pasta and beans and stir to combine.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until pasta is al dente and most of the water is absorbed. (If pasta starts to get to dry during cooking, add a bit more water. You don't want it to dry out completely.)
- Remove from heat and stir in half of the cheese. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.
- Serve with favorite taco toppings.
You might also like to try Creamy Garlic Spinach Chicken Pasta