Cheesy Taco Pasta Dish (Printable)

A creamy Tex-Mex pasta featuring seasoned beef, cheddar, corn, and beans in a flavorful, one-pot dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meat & Protein

01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Pasta

04 - 8 ounces short pasta (penne, shells, or rotini)

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 cup canned corn, drained
08 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
09 - 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with juices

→ Liquids

10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or beef broth

→ Seasonings

11 - 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

14 - Chopped fresh cilantro
15 - Sliced green onions
16 - Sour cream

# Directions:

01 - Heat a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up with a spoon, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add finely chopped onion to the beef and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
03 - Sprinkle taco seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the beef mixture and stir thoroughly to combine.
04 - Add canned corn, black beans, diced tomatoes with juices, pasta, and broth to the skillet. Stir to combine evenly.
05 - Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - Remove from heat and sprinkle shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the pasta. Cover and let rest for 2 to 3 minutes until cheese melts.
07 - Gently stir melted cheese into the pasta. Serve hot, optionally topped with chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, and a dollop of sour cream.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's genuinely one pot, which means your cleanup time rivals your cooking time.
  • The cheese melts right into the pasta while everything's still hot, creating this creamy, dreamy texture without any cream.
  • Taco seasoning does all the heavy lifting flavor-wise, so you can feel confident even on those nights when your confidence is low.
02 -
  • Don't drain the tomatoes—those juices are liquid gold that help cook the pasta perfectly without needing extra broth.
  • If your pasta looks too wet after simmering, let it sit uncovered for a minute instead of cooking longer, or you'll end up with mush.
03 -
  • Brown your beef until it's actually brown, not just cooked through—those caramelized edges are where the flavor concentrates.
  • Stir the pasta occasionally while it simmers so nothing sticks, and taste it before you think it's done because pasta texture is personal.
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