Description
A quick, one-pot cheesy ground beef pasta dish that is perfect for busy families and meal prep. It combines taco flavors with macaroni for a comforting, high-protein meal that reheats beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 12 oz elbow macaroni pasta
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 cups medium or thick salsa
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for serving)
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and diced onion, breaking the meat apart. Cook until beef is no longer pink and onions are translucent. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Stir in minced garlic and taco seasoning. Cook for about one minute until fragrant, adding a splash of water if the pot looks dry.
- Pour in salsa, chicken broth, and uncooked macaroni. Stir well to combine, ensuring pasta is submerged in liquid.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes. Avoid stirring too often to prevent gummy texture.
- Check pasta doneness at 15 minutes; it should be al dente. If needed, cover and cook for another 2-3 minutes, adding liquid in quarter-cup increments if sticking.
- Remove from heat and stir in half of the shredded cheddar cheese. The residual heat will melt it perfectly.
- Let the pot sit for 5 minutes to thicken the sauce. Top with remaining cheese, cilantro, and sour cream or Greek yogurt before serving.
Notes
Do not stir too much while pasta cooks to prevent releasing starch and making the dish gummy. Use low-sodium broth as salsa and seasoning are salty. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes after cooking to allow noodles to absorb sauce. For vegetarian version, swap beef for lentils or plant-based meat. For dairy-free, use nutritional yeast instead of cheese.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: one pot meal, taco mac, meal prep, cheesy beef pasta, quick dinner, family friendly, ground beef recipes