Raise your hand if you grew up on Hamburger Helper. 🖐 Yeah, me too. 🙂 This Beef Taco Pasta is like a homemade version of your favorite childhood dinner in a box with a southwest spin. It has ground beef, a cheesy tomato sauce, green chiles, pasta, a healthy dose of taco seasoning, and tons of delicious comfort all in one bowl. Plus, it all cooks in one pot, which makes dinner time so fast and easy. #WIN

Originally posted 8/25/2013, updated 2/19/2022.

What Kind of Pasta to Use

I used small pasta shells this time around because that’s what I had on hand, but I originally made this recipe with egg noodles. You can use other short pasta shapes as well, keeping in mind that you may need to simmer slightly longer or for less time depending on the type of pasta used. Rotini and penne are also good options.

What Else Can I Add to Taco Pasta?

This is my favorite part of any recipe. I love rummaging through my fridge or pantry looking for leftovers that can be added to whatever I’m cooking to make sure nothing I buy goes to waste. Here are some other ingredients that you can add to your Beef Taco Pasta that would also taste great with this flavor profile:

Jalapeños (fresh or pickled)
Sour cream
Avocado
Black olives
Black beans
Pickled red onions

Swap Out the Meat

This recipe is super flexible, so if you want to use a different type of ground meat, like ground turkey or ground chicken, that would work just as well. Likewise, you could use a vegetarian ground beef alternative, or just skip the ground beef altogether and replace it with a can of black beans. So many options!

One Pot Beef Taco Pasta

This Beef Taco Pasta is like a homemade version of hamburger helper with a southwest flavor spin. Hearty, delicious, and comforting!

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Southwest

Total Cost $7.88 recipe / $1.31 serving

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 1.3 cups each

Calories 360kcal

Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil $0.16
1 yellow onion $0.32
2 cloves garlic, minced $0.16
1/2 lb. ground beef $3.00
1 packet taco seasoning* $0.67
1 15oz. can diced tomatoes $0.79
1 4oz. can diced green chiles $0.67
1/2 lb. small pasta shells $0.50
2 cups beef broth $0.26
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese $1.15
2 green onions, sliced $0.20

Instructions

Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add the onion, garlic, and olive oil to a deep skillet or wide-bottomed pot. Sauté over medium heat until the onions are soft.
Add the ground beef and taco seasoning and continue to cook and stir until the ground beef is cooked through.
Add the diced tomatoes (with juices) and diced green chiles (with juices) to the beef and stir to combine.
Finally, add the pasta and beef broth and stir to combine once again. It’s okay if the pasta is not fully submerged under the broth.
Place a lid on the pot and turn the heat up to medium-high. Allow the broth to come up to a full boil. Once boiling, give the pasta a stir, place the lid back on top, and turn the heat down to medium-low.
Let the pasta continue to simmer, stirring every few minutes and always replacing the lid, for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender. There should be some thick saucy liquid left in the pot once the pasta is cooked.
Add the shredded cheddar cheese and stir until it has melted into the sauce. Top with sliced green onions and serve!

Notes

*You can use one store-bought taco seasoning packet (about 1 oz.) or use this homemade taco seasoning recipe.

Nutrition

How to Make Beef Taco Pasta – Step by Step Photos

Dice one yellow onion and mince two cloves of garlic. Add them to a deep skillet or wide-bottomed pot with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sauté over medium heat until the onions are soft.

Next, add ½ lb. ground beef and one packet of taco seasoning (or homemade taco seasoning). Continue to cook over medium until the ground beef is cooked through.

Add one 15oz. can diced tomatoes (with juices) and one 4oz. can diced green chiles (with juices).

Add ½ lb. pasta shells (uncooked) and 2 cups of beef broth. Stir everything to combine. It’s okay if the pasta is not fully submerged in the broth.

Place a lid on the skillet or pot, turn the heat up to medium-high, and allow the broth to come up to a boil. Once it reaches a full boil, give the pasta a stir (put the lid back in place), turn the heat down to medium-low. Let the pasta continue to simmer, stirring once every few minutes and always replacing the lid, for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender.