Stovetop Cheesy Taco Pasta
An easy meal that has all the flavors of a taco and pasta. It doesn't get much better than this!
Ingredients
- 8 oz large shell pasta
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp dried minced onions
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ cup reserved pasta cooking water
- 1 cup salsa
- 1½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- salt & pepper, to taste
Garnish:
- shredded Cheddar cheese
- crushed tortilla chips
- sour cream
- sliced green onions or chives
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to directions on the package. Reserve ¾ cup of pasta water.
- Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks.
- Once beef is browned and cooked through, and drain off excess fat.
- Add the minced garlic, stir and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the taco seasoning, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, dried onions, pepper and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet, stirring to combine with the meat.
- Add 3/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir to combine all the ingredients and continue to cook until liquid has cooked off.
- Add the cooked pasta, salsa and cheese to the pan. Stir to combine.
- Serve topped with crunchy tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream and green onions or chives on top.
Notes
Reserve pasta cooking water: Using the starchy water makes a good binder and helps the sauce stick to the pasta better.