Cheesy Taco Pasta with Seasoned Beef and Salsa
By Liam Carter
Prep
15 min
Cook
15 min
Total
30 min
Servings
6
Level
Easy
Browning the ground beef improves the flavor․ Boiling the beef mixture with water makes it easier for the taco seasoning to coat the pasta shells․ Cheese is added at another step․ The taco pasta recipe can be cooked in a pan in 30 minutes and served with meat sauce and crushed pasta shells and salsa․
Large shells are precooked to serve as cups for meat and other toppings without breaking apart․ Skillet ingredients consist of ground beef‚ onion‚ garlic‚ taco seasoning mix‚ oregano‚ Worcestershire sauce‚ red pepper flakes‚ and other topping ingredients․ Cook liquid from skillet away before adding shells to concentrate the seasoning․ Add fresh shredded cheddar cheese to skillet to improve melting․
Watch for indications of evaporation when spices are added․ The beef filling should be moist and coated‚ not watery․ Cheese added to a skillet with beef and pasta shells and salsa should melt․ The main texture problem with this dish is overcooked pasta shells‚ which will continue to soften when combined with warm beef․ Drain grease from beef to avoid overly greasy pasta shells․
Serve hot with crushed tortilla chips and sour cream and extra cheese․ Chopped parsley is also mentioned in the article as a topping․ Leftovers can be refrigerated by cooling the pasta and storing it in a sealed container․ Leftovers can be reheated on the stove or in the microwave before serving․
Why you'll love this recipe
- Cooking the beef on medium-high heat helps flavor the dish․ Draining the meat grease helps keep the prepared baked shells and cheese from tasting greasy․
- Cooking the beef in seasoned water helps keep skillet taco sauce from being watery by helping the taco seasoning adhere to the beef․
- Al dente shells retain some bite because they have not been prebaked and softened by salsa and other toppings‚ as other types of shells are․
- Freshly shredded cheddar cheese melts and mixes more readily with other ingredients to create a cheese coating for the pasta and salsa․
- The skillet method cooks pasta in the same pan you use to cook other sauce ingredients with ground beef‚ spices‚ salsa‚ and cheese․
- Crunchy tortilla chips and cold sour cream add varied textures to the dish․ Extra cheese adds more flavor to the taco dish․
Ingredients
- •½ lb large shells pasta
- •1 tbsp canola oil
- •1 lb ground beef
- •1 medium yellow onion (diced)
- •4 cloves garlic (minced)
- •2 tbsp taco seasoning
- •½ tsp dried oregano
- •1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- •1 tsp red pepper flakes
- •¾ cup water
- •1 cup jarred salsa
- •1 ½ cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
- •salt (to taste)
- •pepper (to taste)
- •cheese (for garnish)
- •crushed tortilla chips (for garnish)
- •sour cream (for garnish)
- •chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- 1
Cook the pasta according to the box directions, drain it, and set aside.
- 2
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add oil. Once it starts sizzling, add the ground beef and brown well, breaking it with a spoon until it is no longer pink.
- 3
Drain the fat, leaving only 1-2 tablespoons in the pan.
- 4
Add the onion and garlic, stir, and cook for 1 minute.
- 5
Add the taco seasoning, dried oregano, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Add 3/4 cup of water, stir, and cook until water is gone.
- 6
Add the pasta to the pan. Add the salsa and cheese. Stir to combine.
- 7
Serve immediately with crunchy tortilla chips, sour cream, and more cheese on top.
FAQ
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
432
Reviews
Pin this recipe
Tap an image to save it to Pinterest.
