Taco Macaroni And Cheese | Easy Taco Pasta Recipe With Ground Beef

Taco Macaroni and Cheese is a great way to use up that ground beef in your refrigerator while making something that isn’t hamburgers or spaghetti. It’s perfectly cheesy, flavorful, and a meal your kids will beg you to make again and again.

Why You’ll Love Taco Macaroni And Cheese

• Fast. Have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes with a quick-cooking recipe your whole family will love.
• Easy. Everything cooks in one pan. You can never go wrong with a simple pour and cook recipe.
• Budget Friendly. For less than $10 you can feed a family of 6–and likely have leftovers.
• Versatile. Add a variety of ingredients to make this recipe your perfect Taco Macaroni and Cheese.

Listen, I know this basically a glorified version of that boxed dinner that you grew up eating. Don’t write it off just yet. Not only does it require a little bit of skill to do more than pour some premixed ingredients out of a box, it also gives you a little bit of control with the amounts of ingredients you add in to ensure you have the perfect blend of pasta, beef, and cheese.

Besides, if your family is anything like mine (the kind that can eat through a small grocery store at every meal) you’ll love the amount of food this makes. I can easily feed my family of five and have leftovers for a fraction of the price of what it would cost to buy several of those boxed dinners.

Ingredients You’ll Need

If you’re familiar with my cooking style, you know that the fewer ingredients a recipe requires, the happier I am to make it. Between busy nights with practices and rehearsals and the every day chaos of having three kids, a recipe has to be fast and easy, or I’m not making it.

That being said, this recipe only uses 5 ingredients AND you can make it all in one pot. One dish to wash after cooking dinner? It’s music to my ears.

• Pasta shells- I prefer the small shells as they allow all of the melty cheese to collect in the center for an extra cheesy bite.
• Ground Beef– Browned to perfection, the ground beef adds a pack of protein and texture to this mac and cheese.
• Taco Seasoning– Use your favorite store-bought blend, or make your own. It doesn’t matter as long as you don’t skip this ingredient.
• Velveeta Cheese– While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it melts down perfectly creamy, thickens without the work of creating a roux, and sticks to each pasta shell like a dream.
• Milk– Makes the Taco Macaroni and Cheese incredibly creamy and flavorful.

How To Make Taco Macaroni And Cheese

Step 1: Brown your ground beef. In a large pan with high sides or a Dutch oven, brown your ground beef until it is thoroughly cooked. Drain any excess grease from the pan.

Step 2: Cook the pasta. Pour the pasta into the pan on top of the ground beef and add 6 cups of water. Allow the pasta to cook until al dente. Keep a close eye on your pasta and stir frequently. Add more water, a cup at a time, as needed if excessive evaporation occurs. Do not drain pasta.

Step 3: Add taco seasoning and milk. Add two cups of milk and taco seasoning. Stir until well combined.

Step 4. Make it cheesy. Cube the Velveeta cheese and add 2 ounces at a time, stirring until melted.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy. Serve the Taco Macaroni and Cheese with your preferred garnishes and enjoy!

Tips, Tricks, And Variations

I’m not saying this recipe needs any alterations, because I eat it ALL of the time just the way it is written, but if you’re wanting to add some more protein or veggies to your meal, I’m all for it! Here are a few ways you can jazz up your Taco Macaroni and Cheese even more:

• Add Beans. For a boosted amount of protein, drain a can of black beans and add them after you boil your pasta. Since they are already cooked, you simply need to warm them up with the cheese sauce for them to be ready to eat.
• Add Veggies. When you’re sautéing your ground beef, toss in some diced onions, peppers, and tomatoes and then cook according to the directions listed below.
• Make It Creamy. After your pasta is finished cooking, add in a little sour cream or cream cheese to make this taco macaroni and cheese even more indulgent.
• Sprinkle On Some Crunch. If you like playing with textures, sprinkle some tortilla or corn chips on top of your dish for a fun and flavorful bite.

How Long Does This Taco Pasta Last?

Believe it or not, a food blogger gets tired of cooking. This is one of those meals that I will make on a Sunday night and literally eat every day for lunch so that I don’t have to cook three meals every day. Sure, I could make a sandwich and call it done, but why would you ever choose a sandwich over delicious cheesy pasta?

If you’re like me and choose to use this recipe for meal prep, you can expect it to last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

What To Serve With It

• Elote
• Salsa
• Tortilla Chips
• Sour Cream
• Shredded Cheese

Want More Easy Pasta Dishes?

• Instant Pot Stroganoff with Ground Beef
• Creamy Tuscan Chicken
• Instant Pot Mac And Cheese
• Tortellini Soup

If you love this Taco Macaroni and Cheese recipe as much as we do, make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook and Instagram so they can try it too! Don’t forget to Pin it so you can make it again soon.