Description
Taco Mac and Cheese is an easy, one-pan dinner the whole family will love. With a few simple ingredients like ground beef, taco seasoning, cheddar cheese, and just 30 minutes of cook time, this easy recipe is destined to be one of your family favorites!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup yellow onion, chopped
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
- 1 ½ cups uncooked elbow pasta
- 1 cup water
- 1 (1-ounce) package taco seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- â…› teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- fresh chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pan or skillet on medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add the onion and cook until translucent (about 1-2 minutes).
- Stir in diced tomatoes, uncooked pasta, water, taco seasoning, salt, cumin, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper into the beef.
- Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer. Cover and continue simmering until pasta is tender and cooked through, stirring frequently (about 10-15 minutes).
- Sprinkle the top with cheddar cheese and chopped cilantro before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to simmer while covered so the pasta cooks through.
- If you use higher-fat ground beef, drain the meat after browning before continuing the recipe.
- Omit the cayenne pepper to reduce the spiciness.
- For extra cheesy pasta, stir in an extra 1/2 cup of cheese before simmering.
- For even faster and even easier weeknight prep you can brown the meat ahead of time if you meal prep.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: main course
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 302
- Sugar: 5.2 g
- Sodium: 723 mg
- Fat: 10.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 26.7 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 25.7 g
- Cholesterol: 67 mg