Our favourite one-pot taco pasta is ready in just 20 minutes! Creamy, cheesy, and packed with bold taco flavours, it's the perfect midweek family dinner.
Craving more easy beef mince meals? Try my beef lasagne, chow mein, cottage pie, or slow cooker chilli con carne.
Packed with beef mince, pasta, and a rich, seasoned sauce, this cheesy taco pasta is pure comfort food the whole family will love.
For more easy beef mince dinners, try my Big Mac tacos, spaghetti bolognese, beef patty burgers, or comforting homemade sausage rolls.
These simple, budget-friendly recipes are perfect for feeding hungry kids and adults - and the leftovers freeze beautifully for busy weeknights!
Why You're Going to Love This Recipe
Enjoy this Mexican beef and pasta dish as a mid-week family meal, have Taco Tuesday, or just when you need a lazy Sunday taco night....
- Quick & Easy - This one-pot dinner is ready in just 20 minutes with minimal prep and washing up.
- One-Pot Recipe - Less mess and less hassle! Everything cooks together in one pot for ultimate convenience.
- Family Favourite - The perfect balance of taco spices and creamy, cheesy goodness makes this a hit with kids and adults alike!
- Budget-friendly - Using beef mince and pasta, you can extend taco pasta to feed extras, or increase quantities for meal prepping and freezer meals in advance.
- Customisable - Add extra veggies, spice it up, or swap ingredients to suit your taste.
Pasta Ingredients
Simple ingredients make this easy taco pasta recipe a breeze for the entire family on busy weeknights!
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.
- Taco seasoning - A Mexican blend of spices that gives this pasta its signature taco flavour.
- Pasta - medium shells or curls - Shell pasta or spirals are the perfect pasta shape to hold onto the thick, flavourful meat sauce, as it will cling to all the twists and turns.
- Cheese - A mix of sharp cheddar and mozzarella creates a bold, tangy flavour with a deliciously gooey, stretchy texture.
How To Make Taco Pasta
This creamy, cheesy 20 minute meal is a great recipe for an easy family dinner, and certainly a favourite with the kids! Follow the step-by-step photos below.
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.
- Step 1: Cook the beef mince, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Step 2: Sprinkle in the taco seasoning and add the tomato paste, stirring to coat the mince evenly.
- Step 3: Pour in the beef stock, diced tomatoes, and milk. Stir everything together and bring to a gentle boil.
- Step 4: Add the pasta to the pan, making sure it is fully submerged in the liquid.
Cover with a lid and let it cook according to the pasta packet instructions, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking.
- Step 5: Once the pasta is tender, remove the pan from the heat and stir through the cheddar and mozzarella cheese until melted and creamy.
- Step 6: Dish up taco pasta immediately, garnished with fresh herbs, a twist of black pepper, extra cheese, or other favourite taco toppings, if desired.
Expert Tips
- Add vegetables - Stir in some corn, chopped capsicum (bell peppers), a can of black beans or baby spinach for extra nutrition.
- Add your own favourite toppings, such as sliced avocado and a spoonful of sour cream, for a real Mexican vibe.
- Make it spicier - Add a pinch of chilli flakes or a splash of hot sauce for extra heat.
- Use different cheeses - Swap out the cheddar for Colby, Monterey Jack cheese, or a mix of your favourites.
- Swap the mince - Use ground chicken or turkey mince for a lighter alternative.
- Storing - any leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheated for lunch the next day, they make a hearty meal.
- Freezing - This dish freezes well for up to 1 month. Thaw taco pasta overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Taco Pasta FAQs
Yes! Simply swap the pasta for your favourite gluten-free variety and check that your taco seasoning is gluten-free too.
Absolutely. While full cream milk gives the creamiest result, you can use light milk or even a dairy-free alternative like oat or almond milk.
This dish is a meal on its own, but it pairs well with a side salad, garlic bread, or a dollop of sour cream and avocado for extra freshness and flavours.
More Easy Family Dinners
We all love easy meals, ones that the whole family will enjoy. It's even better if the dish is economical, and any leftovers can be frozen for another night - now that's a winner dinner!
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Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 500 g beef mince
- 2 teaspoon minced garlic or 2 cloves, minced
- 30 g taco seasoning sachet
- 3 tbs tomato paste
- 500 ml (2 cups) beef stock liquid
- 400 g can diced tomatoes
- 250 ml (1 cup) full cream milk whole milk
- 250 g pasta shells or curls
- 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the beef mince and cook until browned. Stir through the minced garlic and cook for a further 1 minute. Drain any excess oil (if needed).
- Add the taco seasoning sachet and tomato paste and stir through.
- Add the beef stock liquid, diced tomatoes and milk.Bring to a gentle boil.
- Add the pasta shells and stir until submerged. Cover with a lid and cook according to the packet instructions. Stir every few minutes, being sure to scrape the bottom of the saucepan to stop any mixture from sticking.
- Once the pasta is cooked, remove from the heat and stir through the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until melted and combined.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Add extra vegetables - Stir in some corn, chopped capsicum, baby spinach, red kidney beans, cannellini or black beans.
- Add your own favourite toppings - Such as a sliced avocado and spoonful of sour cream.
- Make it spicier - Add a pinch of chilli flakes or a little hot sauce for extra heat.
- Use different cheeses - Swap the cheddar for Colby, or a mix of your favourites.
- Swap the mince - Use ground chicken or turkey mince for a lower fat option.
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- Freezing - leftovers can be frozen for up to 1 month. Thaw and reheat thoroughly in the microwave, or stove top.
- Serving ideas - top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Serve with garlic bread.
Louise Zanelli says
This was so delicious, we all had 2nd helpings! I used Impossible (veggie) 'meat' and veg stock and did have to cook the pasta for double the time and added some extra water. We had taco chips with it and it was so yummy! Will definately make again 😊
Susan Baker says
Delicious and everyone enjoyed AND ate dinner