Cozy One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

Love taco night but want an easier cleanup? This One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta is your answer. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly creamy, cheesy pasta every time. The golden, bubbly cheese and crispy taco bits make this dish irresistible. Try it with my Berry Cream Cheese Muffins for a complete meal. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Try these Berry Cream Cheese Muffins for a sweet side and For another easy one-pot dinner, try this Honey BBQ Sausage Pasta.

What You'll Need for Cozy One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 12 oz pasta
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: Diced avocado
• Optional: Sliced green onions
• Optional: Sour cream
• Optional: Chopped cilantro
• Optional: Sliced jalapeños

How to Make Cozy One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

1. Step 1: In a large pot, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned. Drain fat.
2. Step 2: Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil.
3. Step 3: Add pasta to the pot, breaking it in half if needed. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
4. Step 4: Stir in cheese until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Step 5: Serve hot with your favorite toppings.

Storing & Reheating Cozy One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the beef and sauce up to 2 days ahead. Reheat in the pot over medium heat before adding the pasta.

Freezing Cozy One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker, richer sauce, use 1% or 2% milk instead of water when cooking the pasta.
• Best substitution: If you don't have taco seasoning, use 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated, but the pasta may become slightly softer over time.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or milk. If it's too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a few more minutes to reduce.

Cozy One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

⏱

Prep

10 mins

🍳

Cook

20 mins

⏳

Total

30 mins

🍽

Serves

6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 12 oz pasta
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Seasonings

• 1 packet taco seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional Toppings

• Diced avocado
• Sliced green onions
• Sour cream
• Chopped cilantro
• Sliced jalapeños

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large pot, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned. Drain fat.
2. Step 2: Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil.
3. Step 3: Add pasta to the pot, breaking it in half if needed. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
4. Step 4: Stir in cheese until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Step 5: Serve hot with your favorite toppings.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker, richer sauce, use 1% or 2% milk instead of water when cooking the pasta.
• Best substitution: If you don't have taco seasoning, use 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated, but the pasta may become slightly softer over time.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or milk. If it's too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a few more minutes to reduce.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Make ahead: You can prepare the beef and sauce up to 2 days ahead. Reheat in the pot over medium heat before adding the pasta.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 520
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 23g
• Carbs: 45g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 95mg
• Sat. Fat: 12g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Cozy One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Cozy One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!