Description
This One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta combines robust flavors of taco seasoning with creamy melted cheese and tender pasta for a comforting and easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (5 ounce) can tomato paste
- 4 cups beef stock
- 1 pound uncooked pasta (shells recommended)
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Mexican-blend cheese
- Diced avocado
- Finely-chopped fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and sauté, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks, for about 3 minutes until it starts to brown.
- Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic to the pot with the beef. Continue sautéing for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fully browned and the vegetables have softened.
- Stir in the tomato paste thoroughly so it combines evenly with the beef and vegetables, enhancing the sauce’s richness.
- Pour in the beef stock and 1 cup of water. Add the uncooked pasta, chili powder, ground cumin, sea salt, and dried oregano. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Once simmering, reduce heat to medium or lower to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for approximately 10 minutes or until the pasta is just al dente, stirring frequently to prevent sticking or burning on the bottom. Add ⅓ cup extra water as needed if the pasta looks dry or sauce is too thick before al dente.
- Stir in the shredded Mexican-blend cheese until completely melted and combined, creating a creamy sauce. Taste and adjust salt seasoning if necessary.
- Serve immediately topped with your choice of diced avocado, chopped cilantro, lime wedges, and/or sour cream for enhanced flavor and freshness.
Notes
- This dish is perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
- Feel free to customize toppings to your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg