• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweetly Splendid
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Collaborate
  • eBook
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Food » One Pot Taco Pasta with Cream Cheese

    One Pot Taco Pasta with Cream Cheese

    57 shares
    • share
    • tweet
    • save
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A one pot cheesy taco pasta recipe that is made with ground beef and pasta in a creamy sauce. An easy recipe that comes together in 30 minutes for dinner tonight.

    This taco pasta is so good. It has a little spicy kick that isn't too spicy and I'm such a pasta & cheese lover that I could eat the whole pan.

    one pot cheesy taco pasta in a blue bowl topped with cheese and cilantro

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you decide to purchase through my link, I may earn a very small commission at no additional cost to you.

    What I Love About This Taco Pasta Recipe

    One pot meal - everything is made entirely in one pot. Fewer dishes mean more time to eat and more time with family.

    Easy to make - Since everything is made together in one pot, it's minimal effort with maximum results.

    30-minute meal - The only cooking time comes from browning the meat and waiting for the pasta to cook. You can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.

    Simple ingredients - All of the ingredients are easy to find.

    Cheesy Taco Pasta Ingredients

    • Ground Beef - I like to use 97% lean ground beef, but any ground beef will work. If you use a fattier version, you'll need to drain it once it's browned.
    • Tomato Sauce - I use canned tomato sauce. If you use a 'no salt added' kind, you may need to add additional salt.
    • Enchilada Sauce - My favorite brand to use is Gebhardt. They make a lot of different enchilada sauces, but Gebhardt red enchilada sauce is the one we like the best.
    • Reduced-Sodium Beef Broth - I use reduced-sodium beef broth because the other ingredients already have salt in them. It's not required, but just keep the salt content in mind.
    • Water - You'll need just a little water to help the pasta cook.
    • Taco Seasoning - I use my homemade taco seasoning, but store-bought works great too.
    • Onion Powder - My family doesn't like chunks of onion so we go with onion powder here.
    • Garlic - fresh minced garlic is best here.
    • Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese - Go with reduced-fat or full fat. I don't recommend using fat-free. It does not get as creamy.
    • Pasta - any pasta shape is fine. I like elbows or shells in this.
    • Sharp Cheddar Shredded Cheese - I prefer sharp cheddar cheese in this because it adds a lot of flavor. You can use any type of cheese that you like.
    ingredients for one pot cheesy taco pasta

    How to Make Taco Pasta

    Detailed instructions and measurements to make one pot cheesy taco pasta are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

    1. In a deep skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and season with taco seasoning and onion powder. Once it has browned and is cooked through, add in the garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
    2. Add enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Mix to combine.
    3. Bring to a boil, add the pasta, mix, and turn down to a simmer.
    4. Cover and simmer stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes until pasta is cooked.
    5. Remove the lid and stir the mixture. Turn your burner down to low.
    6. Add the cream cheese in pieces. Mix them in until they melt. Once that has melted, add in the shredded cheese. Mix to combine and let it melt.
    7. Serve it up with your favorite toppings and a little extra cheese.
    • cooked ground beef in a skillet with taco seasoning, onion powder, and garlic
    • liquids added to recipe in the skillet
    • enchilada sauce, beef broth, and tomato sauce added to skillet with ground beef
    • cooked pasta in one pot cheesy taco pasta recipe
    • one pot cheesy taco pasta in a skillet topped with cheese

    Tips and FAQs for One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet

    • You can add in extras and your favorite taco items. I like adding black beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, and corn.
    • If you use pasta that's larger than elbow or shells, you may need a little more cooking time.
    • If your stove cooks a little hot (even on low), you may need to add additional liquid so that the pasta can fully cook through.
    How do you cook ground beef with taco seasoning?

    Add the ground beef to the skillet and sprinkle with taco seasoning. Continue to cook until the beef is cooked through.

    Can I mix ground beef and ground turkey together?

    Yes, you can. If you want a little flavor added into your ground turkey, adding ground beef is a great way to do that.

    What cheese goes with taco pasta?

    Taco pasta uses two types of cheeses, both cream cheese and sharp cheddar cheese. The cream cheese will give it a smooth, creamy texture while the sharp cheddar cheese adds a salty bite.

    How do you melt cheese for pasta?

    Stirring the cream cheese into the hot pasta will help it melt smoothly. I recommend breaking it into pieces rather than adding a whole block at once. The shredded cheddar cheese will melt as you mix it in against the hot pasta.

    What is the best pasta for taco pasta?

    Any small to medium sized pasta shape will work best. I like using either shells or elbows.

    one pot cheesy taco pasta in a blue bowl topped with cheese and cilantro

    Toppings to Serve with Taco Cheesy Pasta

    You can serve this with all of your favorite taco toppings. I like topping mine with cheese, sour cream, and avocado. Other great toppings include tortilla strips, cilantro, and lettuce.

    Taco Pasta with Cream Cheese Substitutions

    ground beef - you can substitute with ground turkey if you don't want red meat or would like to lower the calories, ground turkey works great.

    sharp cheddar cheese - you can use mild cheddar, Monterey jack, or pepper jack cheese.

    Do you want it extra spicy?

    You can add extra chili powder, green chile, or even chopped jalapeno to this to amp up the spice.

    How to Store and Freeze Cheesy Pasta

    To store cheesy pasta, allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, place it in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or the freezer for up to 6 months.

    How to convert to a Freezer Meal

    To convert this into a freezer meal, add all the ingredients (except the pasta and cheese) to a gallon freezer Ziploc. When you're ready to cook, remove from the freezer, throw in the skillet and proceed as normal.

    more one-pot recipes you might like

    • One-Pot Chinese Beef and Broccoli
    • Creamy One-Pot Chicken Alfredo
    • One-Pot Lasagna Soup

    one pot cheesy taco pasta in a blue bowl topped with cheese and cilantro

    Taco Pasta

    Kara - Sweetly Splendid
    A one pot cheesy taco pasta recipe that is made with ground beef and pasta in a creamy sauce. An easy recipe that comes together in 30 minutes for dinner tonight.
    This taco pasta is so good. It has a little spicy kick that isn't too spicy and I'm such a pasta & cheese lover that I could eat the whole pan.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 491 kcal
    Protein 34 g

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • ¼ cup taco seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • 10 ounces enchilada sauce I prefer Gebhardt brand
    • 8 ounces tomato sauce
    • 2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
    • 3 cups uncooked pasta choose your favorite - shells, elbows, etc
    • 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
    • 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

    Instructions
     

    • In a deep skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and season with taco seasoning and onion powder. Once it has browned and is cooked through, add in the garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
    • Add enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Mix to combine.
    • Bring to a boil, add the pasta, mix, and turn down to a simmer.
    • Cover and simmer stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes until pasta is cooked.
    • Remove the lid and stir the mixture. Turn your burner down to low (if it isn't already).
    • Add the cream cheese in pieces. Mix them in until they melt. Once that has melted, add in the shredded cheese. Mix to combine and let it melt.
    • Serve it up with your favorite toppings and a little extra cheese.

    Notes

    You can add in extras and your favorite taco items. I like adding black beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, and corn.
    If you use pasta that's larger than elbow or shells, you may need a little more cooking time.
    If your stove cooks a little hot (even on low), you may need to add additional liquid so that the pasta can fully cook through.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Taco Pasta
    Serving Size
     
    1 /6th of recipe
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    491
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    17
    g
    26
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    8
    g
    50
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    57
    mg
    19
    %
    Sodium
     
    872
    mg
    38
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    52
    g
    17
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    21
    %
    Sugar
     
    4
    g
    4
    %
    Protein
     
    34
    g
    68
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword beef, dinner, ground beef, one-pot, pasta, tacos
    Have you tried this recipe? Please let us know how it was in the comments or tag us on Instagram @sweetlysplendid!

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy. It should only be used for estimation purposes and is not a guarantee of any kind. Nutritional information varies widely between brands and types of ingredients used. It is recommended that you calculate the nutritional information based on your own ingredients and brands used. Sweetly Splendid, LLC makes no guarantees as to the exact nutrition information.

    « Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce
    Spinach Mushroom Omelette with Feta »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jenny

      November 07, 2021 at 11:26 pm

      5 stars
      Huge win in my family!! I doubled the recipe since I have 5 kids and this made so much that I don't have to cook dinner tomorrow! Love that Kara makes it easy to double her recipes by just clicking the 2x option! I added a can of corn in mine thanks to her suggestions for add in options. Will definitely make this apart of my dinner rotation schedule!

      Reply
      • kara

        November 08, 2021 at 2:49 pm

        Thank you so much, Jenny!! I'm glad you found the suggestions helpful and that everyone liked it. That's the best compliment!!

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce - says:
      November 29, 2018 at 6:23 am

      […] Taco Pasta […]

      Reply
    2. Instant Pot Italian Shells - says:
      December 10, 2018 at 2:20 am

      […] Taco Pasta […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Kara

    Kara is a wife & mother living deep in the heart of Texas. She loves all things food and spending time with her family and dogs. She has a passion for cooking and loves making yummy, family-friendly recipes. Learn more about Kara...

    Categories

    Instagram

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    Jun 14

    23 3
    Open
    I love when people request that I bring Homemade Banana Pudding to things. Not only is it one of my favorites, but it’s easy to make enough for a crowd. It’s quick to make and everyone loves it!
    23 3

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    Jun 4

    25 6
    Open
    A completely underrated recipe on the blog is this Smoked Turkey Pepper Jack Quesadilla. It’s not a typical quesadilla and it has a surprising ingredient you might not expect 😁 

#turkey #quesadilla #cheese #tortillas #bacon #bhgfood #foodgawker #buzzfeast #easyfood #kidfood #instafood #food4thought #kitchn #imsomartha
    25 6

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    Jun 2

    24 6
    Open
    This pineapple pico de gallo is a staple for me in the summer because it’s a perfect combo of sweet and spicy. It goes really great with chicken and fish, but my favorite is eating it with lime tortilla chips 😍😍😍

#bestfoodfeed #bhgfood #f52gram #huffposttaste #foodgawker #thekitchn #buzzfeast #buzzfeedfood #droolclub #foodprnshare #kitchenbowl #forkfeed #chips #chipsanddip #pineapple #fruit #picodegallo #myfoodgasm #imsomartha #foodblogfeed #todayfood #foodblogeats #wieiad #caloriedeficit #healthyrecipes #weighlossjourney
    24 6

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    May 31

    29 8
    Open
    This Greek Pasta Salad takes traditional pasta salad we're all familiar with and swaps the regular pasta for tortellini and the dressing for a Greek-style favorite. It's easy to make, makes the perfect side dish (hello Greek Turkey Burgers!), and you can make it 3-4 days in advance. A total win/win.
    29 8

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    May 30

    27 4
    Open
    Homemade Peach Lemonade is perfect for hot summer days and it’s really easy. It’s only 3 ingredients (plus water)!
    27 4

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    May 28

    23 1
    Open
    Green Chile Queso Blanco dip is easy to make and the kind of dip that everyone loves when you bring it to a party. It’s packed with cheese, green chile, and corn. So good! 

#greenchile #corn #dip #chips #cheese #easyrecipe #easyrecipes #recipe #recipeshare #appetizer #food #recipes #recipeoftheday #tortillachips #cheesy #cheesyfood #instayum #instafood #meals #partyfood #bbq
    23 1
    Load More... Follow on Instagram

    Main Dishes

    pit boss smoked ribs covered in bbq sauce
    easy baked spaghetti recipe fully cooked and served on a plate with a fork
    beef stew in a bowl topped with parsley and a side of breadsticks
    sheet pan beef fajitas with tortillas and limes
    pumpkin chili in a bowl topped with fresh sage

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    Copyright © 2021 Sweetly Splendid all rights reserved