Taco Pasta
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!
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
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
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