This Slow Cooker Taco Pasta is an easy and flavorful meal that combines the delicious flavors of tacos with the heartiness of pasta. It’s the perfect dinner for busy weeknights, as it only takes a few minutes to prep and can cook all day in your slow cooker.
If you love tacos and pasta, this recipe is for you.
When life gets hectic, this simple dinner recipe comes to the rescue as you can prepare it effortlessly in the crockpot.
What’s great about this dish is its adaptability. You can easily customize it by choosing different pasta varieties, meats, and toppings. It’s easy to tailor to everyone’s preferences.
Cheesy taco pasta topped with your favorite taco toppings is a hit with the entire family. Plus, leftovers taste just as delicious when reheated, making it a fantastic choice for both lunch and dinner throughout the week.
This hearty and comforting meal is going to become your new favorite!
If you’re looking for more easy dinner ideas, try this chicken spaghetti or pork chops with potatoes. Both are delicious and family-friendly!
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Why You’ll Love This Taco Pasta Recipe
- Easy to make!
- Set and forget it meal!
- Family-friendly!
- Versatile options!
- Delicious flavor combination!
Taco Pasta Ingredients
- Lean ground beef
- Beef broth
- Salsa
- Frozen corn
- Black beans, drained
- Red bell pepper
- Taco seasoning
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Shell pasta
- Scallions, sour cream, tomatoes for garnish
Taco Pasta Variations
- Swap ground beef with ground chicken or shredded chicken.
- You can use any short pasta.
- Add green chiles or chopped jalapenos for a kick.
- Use your favorite cheese, pepper jack would be great in this.
- Make it vegetarian but omitting the meat and adding grilled vegetables such as bell peppers and onions.
- Make it gluten free by using gluten free pasta and swapping ingredients with gluten free options.
How to Make Taco Pasta
In a pan, brown and drain your ground beef.
Place cooked ground beef into the slow cooker. Add in beef broth, salsa, frozen corn, beans, bell pepper and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.
Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
30 minutes before serving add in the pasta and stir to cover. Cook for 30 more minutes or until the pasta is cooked through.
Stir in 1 cup of cheese until melted.
Top with the remaining cheese. Garnish with your favorite taco toppings and serve!
Expert Tips
- Stir occasionally to avoid pasta from sticking to the bottom of the crock pot.
- Customize it to your taste using your favorite seasonings and taco toppings.
How to Store
- Refrigerator: Allow to cool and store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Place it in a freezer-safe container or bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing tightly. Frozen taco pasta can last up to 2-3 months without sacrificing flavor.
- Reheat: If frozen, thaw out in fridge overnight. Reheat in microwave to desired temperature.
What to Serve with Taco Pasta
While this taco pasta is great on it’s own, it also pairs nicely with some side dishes. Here are our favorite options:
- Green salad
- Guacamole and chips
- Salsa and queso dip
- Cornbread muffins
- Mexican rice
FAQs
Absolutely! Ground turkey is a great alternative to ground beef if you prefer a leaner option or if you don’t eat red meat.
Of course! You can make homemade taco seasoning or from the store.
Recipe
Slow Cooker Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 cups beef broth
- 16 ounces salsa
- 10 ounces frozen corn
- 15 ounce can black beans drained
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 (1 ounce) envelope taco seasoning
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 16 ounces shell pasta
- Scallions sour cream, tomatoes for garnish
Instructions
- In a pan, brown and drain your ground beef.
- Place cooked ground beef into the slow cooker. Add in beef broth, salsa, frozen corn, beans, bell pepper and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- 30 minutes before serving add in the pasta and stir to cover. Cook for 30 more minutes or until the pasta is cooked through. Stir in 1 cup of cheese until melted.
- Top with the remaining cheese. Garnish with your favorite taco toppings and serve!
Notes
- Refrigerator: Allow to cool and store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Place it in a freezer-safe container or bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing tightly. Frozen taco pasta can last up to 2-3 months without sacrificing flavor.
- Reheat: If frozen, thaw out in fridge overnight. Reheat in microwave to desired temperature.
Nutrition Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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