Creamy Taco Pasta is the perfect easy weeknight dinner that’s ready in less than 30 minutes! Pasta with ground beef in a creamy sauce full of taco flavor.
Originally posted June 30, 2010. Updated October 14, 2024.
This Taco Pasta has been a longtime favorite in my house. I started making it 14 years ago and it’s still a staple.
It’s quick, it’s easy, I almost always have all the ingredients on hand. Plus, it’s delicious. Who doesn’t love a creamy pasta dish full of ground beef and taco flavor?!
Ingredients
- Small pasta – I used shells but you can use any small pasta shape that you like. Elbows, penne, spirals, etc.
- Ground beef – you could also use ground turkey or chicken if you don’t eat beef or just want to make it a bit lighter.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Taco seasoning – use your favorite brand of taco seasoning. You can use spicy or mild, whatever you prefer.
- Diced tomatoes – I used petite diced tomatoes so that I didn’t have big chunks of tomatoes in the pasta. That’s just personal preference.
- Cream cheese – the cream cheese makes the pasta really creamy.
- Sour cream – the sour cream adds that signature tang that really makes the pasta taste like a taco.
- Salt and pepper
How To Make Taco Pasta
- Cook pasta. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water. Drain and set aside.
- Make meat mixture. Cook beef and onion over medium-high heat until beef is cooked through. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add more ingredients. Stir in taco seasoning and tomatoes. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients. Stir in cooked pasta, cream cheese, sour cream, and pasta water. Stir until cream cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Season. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Simmer. Simmer until thickened, 3 – 5 more minutes.
- Serve. Serve hot.
How Long Is It Good For?
Taco pasta is good for up to 3 days. Make sure to store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
When you reheat, it’s probably going to be really thick and need more liquid. I like to reheat it on the stovetop so that I can add water (or chicken broth) as needed to get it back to it’s original consistency. You could also reheat in the microwave.
Can You Freeze It?
If you have leftovers you need to freeze, it will be fine in the freezer for up to 3 months. I would store it in a freezer ziploc bag or other freezer-safe airtight container.
When you are ready to serve it, let it defrost overnight in the fridge and then reheat on the stovetop or microwave. It will probably be really thick so you may need to add water, broth, some sort of liquid to get it back to it’s original consistency.
What To Serve With It?
My family thinks this is a full meal but if you need something to pair with it, how about a Guacamole or my favorite Creamy Jalapeno Dip! Either one of those with tortilla chips is the perfect way to start the dinner.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
- One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
- Spicy Bacon Ranch Pasta
- Turkey Goulash
- Four Cheese Spaghetti
- Spicy Shrimp Pasta
- Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Tortellini
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Taco Pasta
Creamy Taco Pasta is the perfect easy weeknight dinner that's ready in less than 30 minutes! Pasta with ground beef in a creamy sauce full of taco flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 8 ounces small pasta
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning
- 3 ounce cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook the ground beef and onion over medium-high heat until beef is no longer pink. Once the meat is cooked through, add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the diced tomatoes and taco seasoning and stir to combine. Let simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked pasta, cream cheese, sour cream and reserved pasta water, and continue stirring until the cream cheese is melted.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer over medium-low heat 3-5 minutes to reduce the sauce a bit.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 558Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 139mgSodium: 471mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 37g
Dave says
Also, I used jennie o ground turkey with taco seasoning already mixed in. I may never use ground beef again.
Dave says
Made this tonight. I doubled the pasta as you suggested. It’s fantastic. Throw some shredded cheese on top at the end and it’s amazing. Thanks! I wil be making this again!
amanda says
Awesome! So glad that you enjoyed it! Now I want to make it again! :) Thanks for coming back to let me know!
Kelly says
We just ate this! (I’m staring at the leftovers…they better hide!)
So delicious…my husband and I both said we could have ate the whole thing. I used gluten free rice pasta and homemade taco seasoning.
Andrea - Caffeinate Me says
I made this tonight – Holy yum! Thanks!
.-= Andrea – Caffeinate Me´s last blog ..The One With My Project 365 =-.
Sara_Tea says
I just made this, and it’s seriously phenomenal. Thanks so much for the recipe!
.-= Sara_Tea´s last blog ..the prodigal blogger =-.
Steph says
I am going to add this to my menu! Looks great.
.-= Steph´s last blog ..Southwestern Sausage Quiche =-.
Shawna says
Mmm…I made this last night! Thanks for sharing:o)
Liz says
Wow, this sounds really good. I think this will have to go on my menu for next week; thanks for sharing!
.-= Liz´s last blog ..CEiMB- Penne with Roasted Tomatoes- Garlic- and White Beans =-.
Sarah says
Thanks for posting this. Love the inclusion of cream cheese and sour cream. Here in the height of summer humidity, I know I’m supposed to be grilling out every night … but I can’t wait for cooler weather to get back to trying new skillet dishes like this one.
Becca says
Thanks for this recipe. I was literally just thinking that a taco pasta dish would be nice for dinner tonight and then I found this on the Tastespotting site. Can’t wait to try it! Becca :)
nicole says
this sounds so good. we eat tacos so much it’s becoming redundant- this should switch it up a bit!
.-= nicole´s last blog ..do you see it too =-.
Debs says
Oh yes, I like the sound of this. We are big pasta lovers in our house & we always have the same recipe.
Great post, thanks for sharing.
.-= Debs´s last blog ..Homemade Naan Bread =-.
Julie says
I’m sure we’d love this too!
.-= Julie´s last blog ..Bourbon Kahlua Peach Cobbler =-.
Katerina says
I love the sound of this, plus I love how unconventional it is. Your favorite looks delicious too, although a little high fat!
.-= Katerina´s last blog ..Are they Muffins or Scones Fun Raspberry and Pumpkin Baking =-.
amanda says
Yeah, that one’s definitely not something I make often. It’s a twice a year kind of thing. Thanks for commenting! :)
smilinggreenmom says
This sounds so great! We love taco anything here! Our favorite pasta are the noodles made from Kamut Wheat which are organic and so healthy. I would love to try it with this! Thanks so much – it looks yummy!
Patricia says
Sounds wonderful, but doubt I could hide the cream cheese and sour cream from my husband who won’t eat either one.
amanda says
I bet you could stir in some cheddar instead of the sour cream and cream cheese. That would probably be really good. Thanks for commenting! :D
Susi says
This sounds like a great and easy meal for a busy weeknight!
.-= Susi´s last blog ..Giveaway Wednesday =-.