Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta

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Looking for a delicious pasta recipe the whole family will love? Try my Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta recipe that features creamy taco pasta with beef, cheese, and taco seasoning, and only takes 20 minutes to make! 

Looking for a delicious pasta recipe the whole family will love? Try my Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta recipe that features creamy taco pasta with beef, cheese, and taco seasoning, and only takes 20 minutes to make! #pasta #tacopasta #dinnerrecipe

Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta

As a busy mom, I love making meals during the week that are delicious, flavorful, and most of all easy to make. This Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta is one of our family’s favorite and most requested pasta dishes, and is sure to fulfill your taco cravings!

This cheesy taco pasta recipe combines the wholesomeness of pasta with the delicious flavors of cheesy, beef tacos and will be enjoyed by even the pickiest eaters out there. This taco pasta is made with light cream cheese and makes for a healthy balanced meal when paired with a salad and corn.

Even better, you can have this creamy, cheesy taco pasta on your table in 20 minutes or less, making it the perfect meal for busy weeknights.

 

More Easy Dinner Recipes to Try:

Looking for a delicious pasta recipe the whole family will love? Try my Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta recipe that features creamy taco pasta with beef, cheese, and taco seasoning, and only takes 20 minutes to make! #pasta #tacopasta #dinnerrecipe

Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta Recipe

This delicious, cheesy taco pasta couldn’t be any easier to make! All you need is 1 pound of ground beef or ground turkey, 8 ounces of pasta noodles (I prefer shells since it soaks up the sauce), 1 packet of low sodium taco seasoning, 1/2 a block of reduced fat cream cheese, and 1 cup shredded cheese.

After you’ve browned and drained your meat, cooked your pasta shells, and made your sauce, simply combine, top with cheese, and bake in a casserole dish, until the cheese melts. I absolutely love these gorgeous ceramic baking dishes for casseroles and pasta dishes, and they’re dishwasher safe. (Plus they look really pretty for serving!)

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Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Cara Owens
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Course, Dinner, Lunch
  • Method: Skillet, Pot
  • Cuisine: American, Mexican
Print Recipe

Description

Looking for a quick pasta recipe the whole family will love? Try my Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta recipe that features creamy taco pasta with beef, cheese, and taco seasoning. 

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 16 oz Box of Small Shell Pasta Noodles
  • 1 lb Lean Ground Beef or Turkey (80/20 or above preferred)
  • 1 envelope low sodium taco seasoning
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 block reduced fat cream cheese ((4 oz.))
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (Cheddar, Mexican Blend, or Monterey Jack)

Instructions

  1. Begin boiling pasta according to package instructions.
  2. Brown ground beef in pan until fully cooked; Drain; Place beef back into pan and add taco seasoning and water. Stir well and let simmer on Medium heat until liquid has reduced. (About 5 Minutes)
  3. Cut ½ block of cream cheese into small squares and add into ground beef mixture. Begin stirring in cream cheese and increase heat to medium/high until all cheese has been incorporated and sauce is creamy.
  4. Remove ground beef from heat; Drain pasta; Place hot pasta into casserole dish and stir in ½ cup of cheese. Add in taco mixture and mix well.
  5. Top taco pasta with remaining ½ cup of cheese and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is perfectly melted.
  6. Pair it with a delicious salad and enjoy this easy and delicious weeknight meal!

Notes

Optional: Top your taco pasta with fresh herbs or salsa for added flavor

Keywords: Taco Pasta, Cheesy Taco Pasta, Ground Beef Pasta, Weeknight Dinner, Easy Dinner Recipe, Pasta

 

Delicious Taco Pasta Substitutes or add-Ins:

Don’t have any ground beef on hand? Try these yummy substitutes or add-ins to spice up the flavor in this taco pasta even more!

  • Grilled Chicken
  • Ground Turkey
  • Black Beans
  • Fresh Salsa
  • Sautéed Peppers
  • Sautéed Onions

Looking for a delicious pasta recipe the whole family will love? Try my Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta recipe that features creamy taco pasta with beef, cheese, and taco seasoning, and only takes 20 minutes to make! #pasta #tacopasta #dinnerrecipe

Check out some of my other amazing dinner recipes over here

Hope you enjoyed today’s Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta Recipe and I hope you’ll give it a try this week! Would your family love this taco pasta recipe? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by!- Cara

Pin This Post For Later

Looking for a delicious pasta recipe the whole family will love? Try my Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta recipe that features creamy taco pasta with beef, cheese, and taco seasoning, and only takes 20 minutes to make! #pasta #tacopasta #dinnerrecipe

Looking for a delicious pasta recipe the whole family will love? Try my Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta recipe that features creamy taco pasta with beef, cheese, and taco seasoning, and only takes 20 minutes to make! #pasta #tacopasta #dinnerrecipe

Looking for a delicious pasta recipe the whole family will love? Try my Easy Weeknight Cheesy Taco Pasta recipe that features creamy taco pasta with beef, cheese, and taco seasoning, and only takes 20 minutes to make! #pasta #tacopasta #dinnerrecipe

Dinner
Apr 4, 2016

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Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

 

121 Comments

  1. Kim wrote:

    This is a great recipe. I love that you can make it in 20 minutes and that it is kid-friendly and budget-friendly. Thank you for allowing me to use this in my round up.

    Posted 5.8.20 Reply
  2. Deanna wrote:

    This was delicious!! We added salsa on top and served with corn.

    ★★★★★

    Posted 2.9.20 Reply
  3. Velon wrote:

    Only 4oz. of pasta? Is that correct?

    Posted 7.11.19 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Whoops I just now realized it’s supposed to be 1/2 of a 16 ounce box of pasta (8 ounces). Sorry about that!

      Posted 7.17.19 Reply
      • Velon wrote:

        That’s what I thought haha! I was like FOUR OZ.!? Lol
        Well thank you so much! Can’t wait to make it!

        Posted 7.17.19 Reply
  4. Erlene A wrote:

    Looks delicious. I’m going to give this a try tonight.

    Posted 6.9.16 Reply
  5. Amberjane wrote:

    Looks very tasty Cara – thank you for sharing with Pin Worthy Wednesday!

    Posted 4.11.16 Reply
  6. Helen Fern wrote:

    This looks like something my hubby would like! Would love to have you share it on the What’s for Dinner linky.
    http://www.lazygastronome.com/whats-for-dinner-sunday-link-up-39/

    Posted 4.10.16 Reply
  7. ashley wrote:

    Oh wow! This looks delicious and sounds like the perfect meal for my husband and I. We both love Mexican, but he really loves Italian too. Can’t wait to try it! Thanks so much for linking up with us in the #BestoftheBlogosphere Link-Up! Hope to see you again tomorrow 🙂

    Posted 4.10.16 Reply
  8. Katie Elizabeth wrote:

    Yummm! This looks so good and so easy, too! Will definitely be giving this one a try!

    Posted 4.7.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Thanks Katie! It’s delicious, hope you’ll give it a go! 🙂

      Posted 4.7.16 Reply
  9. Melissa wrote:

    Oh! This looks like the perfect quick weeknight dinner! Pinned for later- can’t wait to try it! 🙂 thank you!

    Posted 4.6.16 Reply
  10. Leslie wrote:

    I don’t know how I missed this the other day, but this looks so delicious! Definitely trying it!

    Posted 4.6.16 Reply
  11. Cliona wrote:

    Saw this on the Wonderful Wednesdays linky, it looks absolutely gorgeous! It’s my first time joining the linky so it’s awesome to see such amazing recipes up there!

    Posted 4.6.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Thanks Cliona! Glad to have you here and hope you’ll give this recipe a try 🙂

      Posted 4.6.16 Reply
  12. ellesees.net wrote:

    looks yummy!! and nice mix up from regular pasta!

    Posted 4.6.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Thank-you! I agree it’s a nice change of flavors 🙂

      Posted 4.6.16 Reply
  13. Shann Eva wrote:

    Yum! Looks like something my whole family would love. Pinning!

    Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  14. Evelina wrote:

    I just sent this to my husband. It looks sooooo good. We have everything for this except for the cream cheese!
    Evelina @ Fortunate House

    Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  15. Kim wrote:

    This looks amazingly delicious and I am such a sucker for quick, easy meals! Definitely going to try this out! Hope you’re having a great week so far! XO -Kim

    Posted 4.5.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Thanks Kim! Hope you enjoy it and that you’re having a good week! 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  16. Dia All The Things I Do wrote:

    This looks so yummy and so simple. I love a quick and easy meal 🙂

    Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  17. Heather Davis wrote:

    What a great simple weeknight dinner idea!

    Posted 4.5.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Thanks Heather! Makes for a quick and delicious meal! 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  18. Molly Middleton wrote:

    Yum. Yum. Yum. I love this! Any Mexican food is totally up my alley. Thank you for sharing! I’m happy to have found your blog!

    Posted 4.5.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      So happy to have you here, Molly! 🙂 This recipe is delicious!

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  19. michelle wrote:

    i love taco dishes! this one looks very tasty

    Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  20. Kusum wrote:

    I love Mexican, so smart to use the pasta shells to make the recipe 🙂
    xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com

    Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  21. Susannah wrote:

    Looks totally yummy! My family would LOVE this recipe! <3

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      We usually don’t have a lot of leftovers-haha. Thank-you!

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  22. Marta wrote:

    Yum looks great, love the little recipe card you made!
    Marta
    http://www.sweatersstripesandsweets.com

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  23. chelsea jacobs wrote:

    This looks delicious! And simple, too!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  24. Christine @ The (mostly) Simple Life wrote:

    Looks easy and yummy! I’ve never had anything mixing taco and noodle, but I like both so I bet I’d like this!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      It’s a delicious combination, Christine! Hope you’ll give it a try 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  25. Tricia's Mostly Healthy Life wrote:

    This looks absolutely uh-maze-eeng!!!! I think I will do this

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  26. Ashley wrote:

    That looks so delicious! My entire family would go crazy for it and I love that it is easy to make on a busy week night.

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Thank-you! I love finding and sharing quick and easy recipes because I know we all have busy lives and don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen (or at least I don’t-haha)

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  27. Clare Speer wrote:

    I love simple and delicious looking meals like this – I pinned it for later… I can never ever say no to pasta! 🙂 🙂

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  28. Samantha wrote:

    Oooooh! This sounds delicious! I’m pinning this to make later in the week! Thanks!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Hope you all enjoy it Samantha! It really is a great weeknight meal! 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  29. Elaine wrote:

    I love anything that is a take on Mexican Food!! This is a keeper! Yum!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  30. SMD @ Life According to Steph wrote:

    Great for a weeknight! I love taco pasta. I also love mexican stuffed shells, similar to this but with salsa. I should make one or the other soon.

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Thanks! Mexican stuffed shells are one of my favorites too, but it’s a bit more time consuming so I try to make it on the weekends, but definitely just as delicious!

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  31. CourtneyLynne wrote:

    Omg how yummy is this pasta?!?! I love all
    Things taco so I will be giving this a try! Yum!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  32. Lauren wrote:

    This sounds delicious!

    xx
    Lauren Elizabeth
    Petite in Pearls

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  33. jessica wrote:

    Ummmm why haven’t I ever heard of this?! i’m going to have to make my little this dish sometime 🙂
    xo, Jessica || The Petite Diaries

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      My kids loved it, and I bet your little would too! 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  34. Jacquelyn @ The Lowcountry Mama wrote:

    So quick and easy I’ll definitely be making this soon!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  35. jessica wrote:

    this looks so amazing. adding this of my list of recipes to put into rotation around here!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  36. Rachel wrote:

    Ooh this looks SO good! I think I’m gonna have to try this one out!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  37. Jasmin Saunders wrote:

    that looks delicious. Bet my husband and mini-me would go crazy over this!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Thank-you! My kids loved it and they are both pretty picky! 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  38. Nadine wrote:

    This looks delicious!!! I have seen so many taco pasta recipes floating around but have never jumped on ones. Yours looks super yummy and I love shells! they are one of my favorite noodles. I may have to give this a go!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Thanks and you should! I’ve tried a couple out there that don’t have a lot of flavor to them, but this one is delicious! I especially like adding fresh parsley and salsa to mine for a little kick. 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  39. Crystal // Dreams, etc. wrote:

    This looks really good! I’ll have to try it sometime. 🙂

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  40. Jennifer wrote:

    So, I’ll now be making that this week, haha! Thanks for sharing. This looks delicious!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      I’m so glad you made it Jennifer, and that you all enjoyed it! 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  41. Kate @ Green Fashionista wrote:

    YUM! This would be a huge hit in my house 😀
    Green Fashionista

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  42. Rachel wrote:

    This looks so yummy! I never would have thought about having tacos in pasta form but now I need to try it.

    Rachel | http://www.seashellsandsparkles.com

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  43. Candy wrote:

    Oh Cara you have combined two of our favorites, pasta and taco. Way to go!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      That’s awesome Candy! I love tacos in any form or fashion as well-haha 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  44. Chrissa - Physical Kitchness wrote:

    Gaaaaah so yum!! I have made something similar to this before and my husband LOVED it. Must try your recipe!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Awesome! There wasn’t hardly any leftovers once my husband got ahold of it-haha.

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  45. Paige @ An Uncomplicated Life Blog wrote:

    You had me at taco, and then added pasta… Two of my favorite things!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Haha the combination is delicious! Hope you’ll give it a try! 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  46. Brittany wrote:

    Yum! Looks delicious and I think my husband would love it.

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  47. Rebecca Jo wrote:

    I am a sucker for anything with pasta shells!!!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Me too! You could definitely omit the meat or substitute black beans and I’m sure it would still taste wonderful 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  48. Emily wrote:

    This looks delicious and so easy. My boys love tacos and pasta, so I’m sure they’ll love this!!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  49. Caroline wrote:

    Oh this sounds so delish!! I love how easy it is to make and so kid friendly!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      My kids loved it, and they’re pretty picky! Hope you’ll give it a try 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  50. Melanie wrote:

    This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it ?

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  51. Abby wrote:

    This would definitely make my husband happy! It perfectly easy and crowd-pleasing. Thanks for sharing!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      If he’s a pasta and/or taco lover he’ll love it! Hope you enjoy! 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  52. Andrea Nine wrote:

    YUMMY!! Looks so good, hearty and easy! Definitely going in the meal rotation! Have a wonderful day gorgeous!!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  53. Pamela wrote:

    Definitely pinning this! Love that it’s so easy and it looks so delish! I mean, you can’t go wrong with pasta and taco! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  54. Wendy Tomlinson wrote:

    Oh, that looks yummy. I love easy meals like this.

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
  55. Molly @ Love the Everyday wrote:

    I love all things PASTA! I can’t get enough of the stuff. it’s amazing really, that I don’t weigh 900 lbs! What an easy and fun looking dish!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      Haha, my husband is the same way and could eat pasta every day. Thank-you!

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply
  56. Chelsea wrote:

    Oh my gosh Cara. Now you have me craving Mexican!!! Yummmy!

    Posted 4.4.16 Reply
    • Kindly Unspoken wrote:

      It’s delicious Chelsea, give it a try one night! 🙂

      Posted 4.5.16 Reply