One Pan Taco Pasta
Have you ever found yourself in need of a quick meal? Something everyone will eat? Something the kids will enjoy? Well, I have the meal for you! One Pan Taco Pasta is a quick, hearty dinner that comes together in one pan and can be on the table in 30 minutes or less.
This easy taco pasta is made with ground beef, onion, petite diced tomatoes, corn, kidney beans, rotini pasta, taco seasoning, and beef broth. The best part? You only need one pan, which means less time cooking and less time doing dishes afterward. And honestly, I’m always a fan of fewer dishes!
A Family Favorite Taco Pasta Recipe
It had been a long time since I made taco pasta. I found myself in a pinch one day, and everyone was starting to get hangry. I knew I needed something quick, and something with pasta sounded good to me.
It was then that I remembered that I hadn’t made taco pasta in a long time. I knew it was something my family would enjoy because it had taco seasoning, and we love almost everything that involves taco seasoning.
Well, my whole family devoured the taco pasta, and my son declared that I needed to make this again on a very specific date. Naturally, I had to ask him, “Why that date?”
His answer? It just sounded like a good time.
Kids. Gotta love them.
Well, I did make the taco pasta again, close to the date he had mentioned. Because I found that dinner was quickly approaching…and the Sunday nap got the better of me that day.
Well played, Sunday nap. Well played.
Why You’ll Love This One Pan Taco Pasta
There are a lot of things to love about this easy one pan taco pasta recipe.
First, it is quick. When everyone is hungry and you need dinner on the table fast, this recipe doesn’t require a lot of prep or a long cooking time.
Second, everything cooks together in one pan. The pasta cooks right in the beef broth and taco seasoning, which gives the noodles so much flavor. You don’t have to cook the pasta separately, and you don’t have another pot to wash.
And finally, it’s a hearty meal. With ground beef, pasta, beans, corn, and tomatoes, this taco pasta is filling enough to serve as a complete meal.
Ingredients for One Pan Taco Pasta
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this easy weeknight dinner:
Ingredients
I usually use rotini because I love how the taco-seasoned beef broth gets into all those little twists and turns. However, you can use another pasta shape if that’s what you have in your pantry.
The Secret to Flavorful Taco Pasta
This is one recipe that I have perfected over the years.
When I first made taco pasta, I thought it was good, but it was lacking a little something. The pasta just didn’t seem flavorful enough.
So, the next time I made it, I decided to try something different. Instead of adding all of the taco seasoning at the end, I put some of the taco seasoning directly into the beef broth.
This made a huge difference!
The noodles don’t just absorb the beef broth as they cook. They also absorb all that taco seasoning, giving the pasta tons of flavor from the inside out.
Now, it’s the only way I make this recipe.
I usually use about 1½ to 2 packets of taco seasoning, depending on how much flavor I’m looking for. I start by adding about 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning to the beef broth and then add more at the end to taste.
Don’t skip adding the taco seasoning to the broth! It really helps elevate the flavor of the entire dish.
Instructions
- Start by cooking the ground beef in a large pan. Once the hamburger is cooked through, drain any excess fat.
- Dice the onion and add it to the cooked ground beef. Continue cooking for about 4–5 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent.
- Once the onions are cooked, add the beef broth and about 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning to the pan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once the broth is boiling, add the corn, kidney beans, petite diced tomatoes, and pasta noodles.
- Cover the pan and cook until the pasta is al dente.
- Once everything is cooked, stir in the remaining taco seasoning. Give the taco pasta a taste and add more taco seasoning if needed.
- Scoop the One Pan Taco Pasta into bowls or onto plates and top with shredded cheddar cheese.
Tips for Making Taco Pasta
Use your favorite pasta. I usually use rotini, but you can use another pasta shape. Just remember that different types and shapes of pasta can have slightly different cooking times.
Adjust the taco seasoning to your taste. I generally use 1½ to 2 packets, but you can use more or less depending on how much taco flavor you like.
Watch the pasta while it cooks. You want the noodles to be al dente and cooked through without becoming mushy.
Don’t forget the cheese! Shredded cheddar cheese melted over the warm taco pasta adds the perfect finishing touch.
What to Serve with Taco Pasta
Because this one pan taco pasta recipe already has ground beef, pasta, beans, corn, and tomatoes, it makes a hearty meal all by itself. However, there are plenty of things you can serve alongside it.
A simple green salad is an easy choice if you want to add some fresh vegetables to dinner. You could also serve it with tortilla chips and salsa, guacamole, or even some fresh fruit.
And if your family loves cheese as much as mine does, there is absolutely nothing wrong with adding a little extra cheddar on top!
An Easy Weeknight Dinner the Whole Family Can Enjoy
Sometimes the best dinners are the ones that don’t require a lot of planning. I’ve been making this One Pan Taco Pasta for years, but somewhere along the way, I stopped making it as often.
Then one day, I found myself in a hurry to get dinner on the table and decided it was time to make it again. My family devoured it, and my son loved it so much that he asked me to make it again on a very specific date.
I’m still not sure why that particular date sounded so good to him, but I couldn’t help but laugh. Kids, gotta love them!
Making this recipe again reminded me why it had been a family favorite for so many years. I’ve made a few changes along the way, including adding taco seasoning to the beef broth so the pasta can soak up all that delicious taco flavor as it cooks.
It’s quick, hearty, cheesy, and easy to make. Plus, everything cooks in one pan, making cleanup a whole lot easier.
That’s a win in my book!
One Pan Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 Medium Onion
- 1 14.5 Oz Can Petite Diced Tomatoes
- 1 14.5 oz Can Kidney Beans
- 1 14.5 oz Can Corn
- 2 Packets Taco Seasoning
- 2 Cups Beef Broth
- 2 Cups Rotini Pasta Or other Noodles
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese for topping
Instructions
- Start by cooking the ground beef in a large pan. Once the hamburger is cooked through, drain any excess fat.
- Dice the onion and add it to the cooked ground beef. Continue cooking for about 4–5 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent.
- Once the onions are cooked, add the beef broth and about 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning to the pan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once the broth is boiling, add the corn, kidney beans, petite diced tomatoes, and pasta noodles.
- Cover the pan and cook until the pasta is al dente.
- Once everything is cooked, stir in the remaining taco seasoning. Give the taco pasta a taste and add more taco seasoning if needed.
- Scoop the One Pan Taco Pasta into bowls or onto plates and top with shredded cheddar cheese.
If you like pasta and tacos you’re bound to like this one! Very good, and easy! Win win