Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta Recipe: Quick, Comforting & Flavorful
A comforting, Tex-Mex inspired pasta dish that blends seasoned beef, black beans, corn, and tender noodles under a gooey layer of melted cheese. Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta is a hearty, flavorful one-pot weeknight winner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One Pot
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 ½ lbs Ground Beef
- 1 large Yellow Onion, diced
- 2–3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 (10oz) can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies (Rotel), undrained
- 1 (15oz) can Tomato Sauce
- 1 (15oz) can Black Beans, rinsed & drained
- 1 (15oz) can Sweet Corn, drained
- 4 cups Beef Broth
- 1 cup Water
- 12 oz Elbow Macaroni (or small pasta)
- 1 (1.25oz) packet Taco Seasoning
- 1 tsp Ground Cumin
- ½ tsp Chili Powder
- ½ tsp Smoked Paprika
- ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional)
- 1 ½ cups Shredded Colby Jack Cheese
- ½ cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Gather all ingredients, dice the onion, mince the garlic, rinse and drain the black beans, and drain the corn. Shred both cheeses.
2. In a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil and brown the ground beef. Drain most of the fat, leaving a little in the pan.
3. Reduce heat to medium, add diced onion, and cook for 5–7 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in the diced tomatoes with green chilies, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and optional cayenne pepper. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
5. Add the black beans, corn, beef broth, and water. Stir and bring to a gentle boil.
6. Stir in the elbow macaroni, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring frequently, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
7. Remove from heat and gradually stir in the shredded Colby Jack and Sharp Cheddar cheeses until melted and creamy.
8. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Let rest uncovered for 5 minutes before serving.
9. Garnish with fresh cilantro, sour cream, green onions, avocado slices, or crushed tortilla chips if desired.
Notes
For a spicier kick, increase the cayenne pepper or add diced jalapeños.
Swap elbow macaroni for shells or rotini for a fun variation.
This one-pot recipe is great for leftovers—store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Find it online: https://cookingwithramsay.com/cheesy-beef-taco-pasta/