One Pan Taco Pasta (A 20 minutes or less recipe)

This one pan beef taco pasta is filled with all of my favorite ingredients and absolutely delcious: pasta, a flavorful homemade taco seasoning that’s way better than the store packets, ground beef onions, garlic, diced tomatoes with green chilies and more.

This quick and easy pasta is full of flavor perfect for busy weeknights! I rather use homemade taco seasoning because I find that the store packets just aren’t flavorful enough. So for big flavor, make this pasta with a homemade taco mix. 

Easy Taco pasta easily sub for spaghetti

BEEF TACO PASTA

I love creating pasta recipes like this easy taco pasta. It will surely impress your whole family.  It can be made with your favorite pasta. If you only have spaghetti then use spaghetti. During these challenging times it’s best to use what you have.

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I used a box of cavattapi pasta since I didn’t have any spaghetti. Normally I would use spaghetti but just about any pasta is fine. 

This taco pasta is not bland at all. Full of flavor! I have made it in the past based on some of the recipes I’ve seen but I found myself adding more seasoning after the dish was cooked. Even then, something just wasn’t right. What some taco recipes are lacking is more seasoning and a few other ingredients.

Those store taco seasoning packets are meant only for a pound of ground beef and not a pound of ground beef plus a several other ingredients.

So, long story short,  if you happen to use the packets of taco seasoning, you’ll need to use a couple of them. 

You can ditch the packets and use the container of taco seasoning. But the best way to make this pasta is with homemade taco mix. I adapted the taco pasta seasoning from my ground beef taco seasoning recipe.   

HOW TO MAKE IT 

Taco pasta is so easy and quick and uses one pan. And it only takes a few minutes of prep time plus 20 minutes or less to cook. In a large skillet, heat the oil, brown the ground beef with the onions and garlic. 

A skillet with ground beef for taco pasta

Next, add the taco seasonings aka, chili powder, garlic powder, sweet paprika, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, diced onions and minced garlic. Now add 2 cans of the diced tomatoes with green chilies, tomato paste, beef base and water.  

Ingredients for taco pasta in a skillet with ground beef

Add the water. Mix. Let it come to a boil.

Adding water to a skillet of taco pasta mix

Next, add the pasta and mix well. Cover with a lid and set stove to “low” heat. Cook until the pasta is tender about 12 minutes or so. Thinner pasta like spaghetti may cook faster. Always check the directions on the back of the pasta box. 

Pasta with the taco mix and water in a skillet

Once the pasta is done, there may be some liquids leftover. To thicken the sauce. To a small bowl add about 1 1/2 tsp of cornstarch and about 3 tbsp of water. Mix very well and pour into the skillet.

Mix well and cook for about 3 minutes.  If you want the sauce thicker, just add a bit more cornstarch and water mix (this is called a slurry) Make sure the slurry is free of lumps then add it to the pasta. Serve right away. You can serve this one pot taco pasta with shredded cheese if you like. 

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You may also like these beef recipes 

taco pasta in skillet

One Pot Beef Taco Pasta

April Boller Wright
You'll love this one pot beef taco pasta made with a quick and easy homemade taco mix. Absolutely delicious!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 5 people

Ingredients
  

Cheese sauce

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup diced onions
  • 2 cups pasta
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp salt and pepper
  • 2 10 oz diced tomatoes with chilies
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 2 tsp Better than Bouillon Beef Base
  • 2 cups water
  • cilantro for garnish
  • shredded cheddar cheese

To Make the Slurry

  • 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
  • 3 tsp water

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet, heat the oil, brown the beef with the onions and garlic. 
  • Next, add the taco seasonings aka, chili powder, garlic powder, sweet paprika, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, diced onions and minced garlic. Now add 2 cans of the diced tomatoes with green chilies, tomato paste, beef base and water.
  •  Add the water. Mix. Let it come to a boil.
  • Add pasta and mix well. Cover with a lid and set stove to low. Cook until the pasta is tender about 12 minutes or so. Thinner pasta like spaghetti may cook faster. Always check the directions on the back of the pasta box. 
  • Once the pasta is done, there may be some liquids leftover. If you like to thicken the sauce add the slurry mixture. Mix very well and pour into the skillet.
  • Mix well and cook for about 3 minutes. If you want the sauce thicker, just add a bit more cornstarch and water mix. Make sure the slurry is free of lumps before you add it to the pasta.

To Make Slurry

  • Add the slurry mixture to a small bowl and mix until smooth and no lumps are left.
  • Pour slurry into the skillet and mix well.

Notes

Feel free to garnish with your favorite taco toppings like sour cream and shredded cheese. 
This recipe has a bit of a kick to it, so you may want to use less chili powder. You can start with a tablespoon and taste. Add more if needed. 
This recipe and photos was updated on 5/25/2020. 
Keyword easy taco pasta, one pot taco pasta, taco pasta, taco spaghetti
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27 Comments

  1. Monica Parker says:

    This dish is a HIT in our house, Love everything about it! Thank you for sharing your recipe!5 stars

  2. Emely @ theblushfig.com says:

    Taco Spaghetti, seriously what a creative mind! I think my kids will love this, must put it on the menu soon!

  3. This looks so good! I love that the sauce is only 3 ingredients – sometimes sauces are sooo complicated!

  4. Elizabeth | The Recipe Revival says:

    This looks absolutely delicious! I love how you combined 2 of my favorite foods, pasta and tacos. Im also digging the spicy level of this dish. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  5. Oh my god this looks so good. I will have to do this the next time I want spaghetti.

    1. I hope you can try it! It’s amazing! Thank you!

  6. Oh my goodness. Taco spagghetti?! Such a great idea!

  7. This dish is so rich in flavors, taco spaghetti ? really!
    I can never think of these combinations, bravo!

  8. I love how flavorful and unique your recipes are and how easy they are to make. I have another one to add to the list to make!

  9. WHOA! I LOVE <3 <3 <3 your creativity!!! Taco spaghetti is something I would never have thought of!! it looks super tasty but somehow I find myself wondering how to make a taco shell out of spaghetti and load it up with taco meat, beans and cheese…. MMMM! Can't wait to try this recipe!

    1. That’s a great idea Tiffany! If you ever make a spaghetti taco shell let me know! Thank you!!

  10. Such a wonderful fusion pasta dish! I love all those incredible flavors. This spaghetti looks like the perfect weeknight meal.

    1. It’s so easy and comes together pretty fast! Thanks again Tara!

  11. Such an interesting combination! And I’m pretty sure my kids will love your cheese sauce. Thanks

    1. The first time I made this, I wasn’t sure I would like it, boy was I wrong. I absolutely looooooooooove it! Thanks!

        1. Hey! I’m glad you like it. It’s a fav in our home! Thank you so much!!

  12. I thought that my spaghetti stuck together because I was doing something wrong, now I know it’s a thing! Haven’t tried Barilla, but I’ve seen it, and since we eat pasta once a week I think I’ll give it a go to your Taco Spaghetti!

  13. Oh! I can’t wait to try this one out! My kids love tacos, but hate spaghetti. I wonder if this would change their minds!

    1. My kids don’t like spaghetti either but they love this version. I don’t know which one I like better but I’m leaning more towards taco spaghetti! It’s so good! Thank you!!