One-Pot Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta
A creamy, cheesy one-pot pasta with seasoned ground beef and taco spices that kids love for a simple weeknight dinner. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs ground beef, olive oil, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small, diced onion
- 2, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 can (14.5 oz), undrained diced tomatoes
- 2 cups beef broth
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 4 oz, cubed cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add 1 lb ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, for 5-6 minutes until browned and no longer pink.
- Step 2: Add 1 small diced onion and 2 minced garlic cloves to the beef. Sauté for 3 minutes until the onion softens and garlic is fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp taco seasoning, 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juices, and 2 cups beef broth.
- Step 4: Add 8 oz dry elbow macaroni, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender and most liquid has absorbed.
- Step 5: Remove pot from heat and stir in 4 oz cubed cream cheese and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese until melted and sauce is creamy.
- Step 6: Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper to taste, then serve warm.








