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Creamy One-Pot Taco Pasta Delight

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A quick and comforting one-pot meal combining creamy, cheesy pasta with bold taco-seasoned ground beef, perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (lean preferred)
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 packet (about 1 oz / 28g) taco seasoning mix
  • 8 ounces uncooked pasta (elbow macaroni or small shells)
  • 2 ½ cups beef broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 cup canned diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup sour cream (optional)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
  • Optional: sliced jalapeños, diced avocado, or fresh lime juice

Instructions

  1. Heat a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a spoon. Once it starts to brown, stir in diced onion and garlic. Cook until onion is soft and beef is fully browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  2. Sprinkle taco seasoning evenly over the beef mixture. Stir well to coat all the meat. Pour in beef broth and canned tomatoes with their juices. Stir to combine, scraping browned bits from the bottom.
  3. Add uncooked pasta directly into the skillet. Stir well to submerge pasta in the liquid. Cover skillet with lid and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed, about 12-15 minutes.
  4. Remove lid. Add softened cream cheese in chunks and shredded cheddar cheese. Stir gently until cheese melts into a smooth, creamy sauce coating the pasta and beef. Add a splash of broth or milk if sauce is too thick.
  5. Stir in sour cream if using. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or more taco seasoning if needed. Warm through for another minute.
  6. Garnish with chopped cilantro and optional jalapeños or lime juice. Serve immediately.

Notes

[‘Use softened cream cheese for smooth melting; let it sit out 20 minutes or microwave 15 seconds.’, ‘Keep stirring gently after adding cheese to avoid breaking down pasta.’, ‘Add extra broth or water if skillet looks dry before pasta is done.’, ‘Covering the pan traps steam and helps pasta cook evenly.’, ‘Small pasta shapes like elbow macaroni or shells work best.’, ‘Leftovers thicken; stir in milk or broth when reheating to restore creaminess.’, ‘For vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with cooked lentils or crumbled tofu with taco seasoning.’, ‘For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and adjust cooking time accordingly.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: taco pasta, one-pot meal, creamy pasta, quick dinner, family meal, ground beef recipe, easy pasta, taco seasoning

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/creamy-one-pot-taco-pasta-delight-easy-recipe-for-quick-family-meals/