Description
Cheesy Taco Spaghetti is a quick and flavorful one-pan meal combining seasoned ground beef, diced tomatoes, and spaghetti, all cooked together and topped with melted cheddar cheese for a comforting Tex-Mex twist on traditional pasta.
Ingredients
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
- 1 cup diced red onion
Seasonings and Liquids
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 packet taco seasoning (about 1 oz)
- 1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes, undrained
- 3 cups water
Pasta and Cheese
- 8 oz dry spaghetti
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the beef and onions: In a large deep skillet or sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced red onion and ground beef. Cook, breaking up the beef, until browned and the onions are softened, about 6–8 minutes.
- Drain grease: Drain excess grease from the pan if necessary to remove extra fat and avoid a greasy dish.
- Add seasonings and ingredients: Add the taco seasoning packet, undrained diced tomatoes (Rotel), dry spaghetti, and water directly into the skillet with the cooked beef and onions.
- Bring to boil: Stir everything together well and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat to start cooking the pasta.
- Simmer the pasta: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let it simmer for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the spaghetti is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Add cheese: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and everything is combined smoothly.
- Serve: Serve the cheesy taco spaghetti hot. Optionally garnish with chopped fresh cilantro or extra tomatoes to add freshness and color.
Notes
- Use 85% lean ground beef for a good balance of flavor and fat content.
- If you prefer, substitute ground turkey to reduce fat.
- Make sure to use undrained tomatoes to provide enough liquid for cooking the pasta.
- Stir occasionally during simmering to prevent pasta from sticking to the pan.
- Feel free to add jalapeños or hot sauce for extra heat.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
