Description
A creamy, flavorful one-pot taco pasta recipe that combines seasoned ground beef, hearty pasta, and melty cheese, all cooked together for a quick and satisfying meal with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Cheese Mixture:
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 4 oz. Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes
Pasta and Meat:
- 1 lb. Ground Beef (85% lean)
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 oz. packet Taco Seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Tomato paste
- 1 cup Beef broth
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1 cup Whole milk, at room temperature
- 1 (10 oz.) can Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- 1/2 lb. Medium pasta shells
Instructions
- Shred Cheese: Shred the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and set aside.
- Cook Beef: In a large pot, cook the ground beef over medium heat, crumbling it with a spoon until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce: Melt the butter in the same pot over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the taco seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste, cooking for another minute. Pour in the beef broth, chicken broth, and whole milk, stirring well. Add the undrained Rotel tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Add Pasta: Stir in the pasta shells, ensure they are submerged, cover the pot, and reduce heat to simmer. Cook for about 12-15 minutes, stirring halfway through, until pasta is tender and sauce has thickened.
- Melt Cheese: Reduce heat to low. Gradually add the shredded cheeses and Velveeta, stirring constantly until melted and smooth.
- Serve: Adjust the sauce consistency if needed by adding a splash more broth or milk. Serve hot, garnished with toppings like sour cream, chopped cilantro, or jalapeños if desired.
Notes
- This recipe makes a lot of sauce, so feel free to add more pasta or toppings.
- You can substitute all chicken or all beef broth based on your preference for a different flavor profile.
- Shred cheese directly from a block for the best melting results.
- Experiment with pasta shapes like rotini or penne for variation.
- Add cooked vegetables such as corn, bell peppers, or black beans for extra nutrition and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
