Taco Pasta

This Taco Pasta is a one-pot cheesy and creamy weeknight dinner ready in only 40 minutes from start to finish. It’s always a crowd-pleasing dish, especially with the kids because it’s basically like cheesy hamburger helper but so much better!

If you’re a fan of Mexican and Mexican-inspired meals then you’re going to love today’s Taco Pasta recipe! Made with pasta shells, taco-seasoned ground turkey, light cream cheese and sharp cheddar cheese, this dish is like that cheesy hamburger helper I loved as a kid but so much better and healthier!

Kids love how cheesy and creamy it is, adults love the lean protein from the ground turkey and everyone loves the pasta shells.

And the best part? From start to finish, this taco pasta takes only 40 minutes to make!

How to make Taco Pasta

Making this taco pasta is incredibly easy. All you do is…

1. Cook the ground meat with some tomatoes and taco seasoning
2. Mix in some cream cheese until it melts
3. Fold in cooked pasta and cheese

That’s it! It’s not complicated at all and the flavor is out of this world.

The secret is in the combination of the taco seasoning and the cream cheese. It makes every bite feel very decadent without being overly creamy. It’s creamy, cheesy and savory in the best way possible that keeps everyone coming back for one more bite.

This recipe is absolutely delicious and I hope you love it as much as I do!

Tips and Substitutions

• This recipe uses a homemade taco seasoning mix, but if you’re short on time or don’t have all the spices that it calls for, you can use 1 packet of your favorite store-bought taco seasoning instead.
• Instead of ground turkey, you can use ground beef, ground chicken, or your favorite plant-based substitute if you prefer.
• To sneak in some extra veggies, add in 2 cups of kale or spinach when adding in the diced tomatoes.

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4.81 from 26 votes

Taco Pasta

By: Isabel Orozco-Moore

This Taco Pasta is a one-pot cheesy weeknight dinner ready in only 40 minutes from start to finish. It's a crowd-pleasing dish that kids love!

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 35 minutes minutes

Total: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

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Ingredients 

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For the homemade taco seasoning*

• ▢ 1 tablespoon chili powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

For the pasta

• ▢ 8 ounces medium pasta shells (about 3-4 cups dry)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon olive oil
• ▢ 1 cup chopped onions (about 1 small onion)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 1 clove)
• ▢ 1 pound ground turkey (or chicken or beef)
• ▢ 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
• ▢ 1/2 cup water
• ▢ 4 ounces light cream cheese
• ▢ 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ▢ salt and black pepper, to taste
• ▢ chopped cilantro and tomatoes, for topping

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Instructions 

• In a small bowl, add all the ingredients for the taco seasoning. Mix to combine and set aside. (Alternatively, you can substitute the homemade mix with 1 packet of store-bought taco seasoning if you prefer.)
• Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and onions and cook for about 5 minutes until onions have softened and are translucent.
• Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Add ground meat, break up with a spatula and cook until no longer pink and fully cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.
• Add diced tomatoes and taco seasoning. Stir to combine and simmer for 3 minutes.
• Add water and cream cheese. Stir together until the cream cheese has fully melted to create a sauce. 
• Add cooked pasta and shredded cheddar cheese. Gently toss to combine until the cheese has fully melted. Taste and season with salt and pepper as necessary. Top with chopped cilantro before serving.

Video

Notes

• You can substitute the homemade taco seasoning with 1 packet of store-bought taco seasoning if you prefer.
• Instead of ground turkey, you can use ground beef, ground chicken, or your favorite plant-based substitute if you prefer.
• To sneak in some extra veggies, add in 2 cups of kale or spinach when adding in the diced tomatoes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6th of recipe | Calories: 397kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 389mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 800IU | Vitamin C: 12.4mg | Calcium: 200mg | Iron: 2.9mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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