Stop Stressing About Dinner and Make One-Pot Taco Pasta

A complete, crowd-pleasing meal with minimal clean-up? Yes, please!

By
Julie & Amy Luxemberg
Vibing Vegans
Julie & Amy Luxemberg
Sisters Julie & Amy Luxemberg are self-taught vegan chefs, recipe developers, and content creators.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published August 08, 2023
Vibing Vegans
One-Pot Taco Pasta in a Pot, and in the Surroundings, a Bowl With Lime Wedges, a Bowl With Sliced Green Onions, a Bowl With Sour Cream, Glasses With a Drink, and a Mustard Colored Table Napkin

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

We get all of our cooking skills from our mom, but today we’re going to give some credit to our dad. True to his bold Leo personality, he likes to add some shock value to whatever he’s making, regardless of the outcome. One time he added Grape-Nuts to meatloaf, a decision he still stands by even though it traumatized our entire family. 

One of his creations, which involved adding cooked pasta to chili, was more inspiring than off-putting. Always one for simplicity, he loved that everything could be eaten together in one bowl. Hence, one-pot taco pasta was born.

We took the elements we loved about our dad’s pasta chili and turned it into a more cohesive dish that packs in bold and zesty taco flavor, hearty ground beef, and saucy noodles. With a few fridge staples and pantry items, this one-pot meal comes together easily in just over 30 minutes.

One Pot Wonder

What is better than a satisfying meal made in one pot? You don’t even need to cook the pasta separately when making one-pot taco pasta. Enough liquid is added to cook the dried pasta directly in the pot, and it soaks up tons of flavor in the process. This one-pot meal makes for easy cleanup and minimal stress.

Two Bowls of One-Pot Taco Pasta Topped With Sour Cream, Sliced Scallions and a Lime Wedge, and in the Surroundings, a Bowl With Lime Wedges, a Bowl With Sliced Green Onions, a Bowl With Sour Cream, Glasses With a Drink, and a Mustard Colored Table Napkin With a Pair of Silverware

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Tips and Tricks for One-Pot Taco Pasta

  • Be careful not to overcook the meat. You want it to brown while still remaining slightly pink, as it will continue to cook with the pasta.
  • Stir the pasta occasionally while it cooks to make sure all the noodles get submerged in the broth.
  • Adjust the seasoning and spice to your liking. Use extra hot sauce if you like your food with a kick.
  • Let the pasta sit for a few minutes once it’s cooked and the cheese is melted—it will thicken and the flavors will meld together. Your patience will pay off!

Recipe Variations

You can use different pasta shapes like shells, rotini, cavatappi, or fusilli when making one-pot taco pasta. You can also add 1 cup of frozen or drained canned corn or 1 1/2 cups drained black beans when you add the tomatoes, or stir in a 5-ounce bag of fresh baby spinach during the last minute of cooking.

Taco pasta is delicious with other cheeses like pepper Jack, Colby Jack, or a Mexican blend. Make it vegan (or vegetarian) by using plant-based ground beef, vegetable broth, and vegan cheese shreds.

Bowl of One-Pot Taco Pasta Topped With Sour Cream, Sliced Scallions and a Lime Wedge, and in the Surroundings, a Bowl With Lime Wedges, a Bowl With Sliced Green Onions, a Bowl With Sour Cream, Glasses With a Drink, and a Mustard Colored Table Napkin With a Pair of Silverware

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Serving and Reheating

This dish makes amazing leftovers! Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and reheat in a pot on medium-low heat with a splash of broth until it’s warmed through. Cover the pot and stir occasionally as it reheats.

Try serving one-pot taco pasta with your favorite toppings like scallions, sour cream, jalapeños, red onion, lime, extra shredded cheese, and a chipotle-flavored hot sauce.

More One Pot Meals

One-Pot Taco Pasta

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Servings 4 servings

This recipe calls for salt to taste since the amount of salt in taco seasoning and broth can vary so much.

To make this recipe vegan, use plant-based ground, vegetable broth, and vegan cheddar cheese. You can also swap the pasta for gluten-free pasta.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 white onion, chopped

  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (12 ounces if using Impossible Meat)

  • 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning or 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning

  • 1 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chilis 

  • 8 ounces elbow pasta

  • 2 cups beef or vegetable broth

  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)

  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce, optional

  • Salt, as needed

Optional toppings

  • Green onions, chopped

  • Sour cream

  • Lime wedges

Method

  1. Sauté the vegetables and ground beef:

    Set a large pot (5 or 6 quarts) on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. Once shimmering, add the chopped onion and bell pepper and cook until just softened, about 2 minutes. Add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon to break it up in the pan. 

    Reduce the heat to medium and cook until most of the pink is gone, 3 to 5 minutes. If desired, spoon off some of the grease. For plant-based meat, this will only take 2 to 3 minutes.

    Diced Bell Peppers and Onions Cooking in a Dutch Oven for One-Pot Taco Pasta Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    Ground Beef Mixed With the Diced Onions and Bell Peppers Using a Wooden Spatula for One-Pot Taco Pasta Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  2. Add the seasoning, tomatoes, pasta, and broth:

    Add the taco seasoning, paprika, cumin, canned tomatoes, and green chilis, both undrained. Mix until combined. Add the dry pasta and stir to coat. Pour in the beef broth and mix everything once more. 

    Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil (this takes 3 to 5 minutes).

    Taco Seasoning and Canned Diced Tomatoes Added to Pot With the Rest of the One-Pot Pasta Ingredients

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    Dry Elbow Pasta Added to Pot With the Rest of the Ingredients

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    Beef Broth Added to Dutch Oven Using a Measuring Cup

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  3. Simmer the pasta:

    Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer until the pasta is cooked, 13 to 15 minutes. Stir a few times while simmering to ensure the pasta cooks evenly.

    One-Pot Taco Pasta Intermittently Stirred Using a Wooden Spoon

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  4. Mix in the cheese, cilantro, and lime:

    Turn off the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it melts. Mix in chopped cilantro, lime juice, and hot sauce (if using). Taste and add salt as needed. 

    Let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes to thicken before serving topped with scallions, sour cream, and lime, if desired.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    Shredded Cheddar Cheese Stirred Into the One-Pot Taco Pasta

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    One-Pot Taco Salad in a Dutch Oven With a Wooden Spoon Surrounded by Bowls of Toppings (a Bowl of Lime Wedges, a Bowl of Sliced Scallions, and a Bowl of Sour Cream)

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
510 Calories
24g Fat
34g Carbs
38g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 510
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 31%
Saturated Fat 10g 51%
Cholesterol 104mg 35%
Sodium 1482mg 64%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 38g
Vitamin C 77mg 385%
Calcium 263mg 20%
Iron 6mg 31%
Potassium 955mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.