Cheesy, creamy, and packed with shell noodles, ground beef, lots of tomatoes, and all your favorite Tex-Mex toppings, one-potSkillet Taco Pastais as dreamy as it is filling and flavorful.

You guys already know my love of all things tacos,Tex-Mex, and big and bright flavors. Throw into the mix some noodles, a one-skillet cooking element (hello, easy cleanup), and I’m one happy mama.

Kiddos will loveskillet taco pasta, too! Full of ground beef, big shell noodles, cheese, and an incredible mix of spices and seasoning, the base of the meal is pretty basic, and then you can invite the little ones to customize their own bowls with whatever they like: chopped tomatoes, avocado, green onion, black olives, and iceberg lettuce. We all know how hard it is to feed picky kids, so look for some other tipshere. It makes it fun for them, and easy for you!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Easy to make
Can be customized to how everyone likes it
The combination of tacos and pasta is amazing

Ingredients:

Lean ground beef
White onion
Medium shell pasta
Water
Petite diced tomatoes
Tomato sauce
Chili Powder
Garlic Powder
Cumin
Smoked Paprika– or normal paprika if that’s what you have on hand
Salt
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese– Use what you have on hand or what you prefer
Salt and Pepper

See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

Additions and Variations:

If you want to add more spice do it! Add chili powder, red pepper flakes, or jalapenos
To put on top you can add olives, avocado, green onion, bell peppers, and whatever else your family loves!

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long does skillet taco pasta last in the fridge?

This is a great contender to make a big ol’ batch of and have for leftovers later in the week. After you let it cool completely, store leftovers in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days. Reheat in the oven for the best texture (aka, no soggy noodles in the microwave!). It also makes an awesome freezer meal — all you have to do is make two skillets of it and freeze one of them to have a full meal ready to go in the future! It’ll keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Can you cook noodles in sauce?

I wouldn’t advise cooking normal pasta in a tomato sauce. Like, spaghetti? Absolutely not. But this is such a hearty and rich dish that when you cook the noodles with everything else, and with a couple cups of water, it works out really well! I think the shape and size of the noodles has something to do with it, and cooking it all in one skillet lets the flavors meld together for longer.

Can you use another type of Pasta?

Yep you can! Pretty much any medium sized pasta will work like penne or bowtie pasta. That’s also a fun way to make it a little different each time.