• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simply Happy Foodie
  • Home
  • Recent Posts
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures / Disclaimers / Copyright
    • Contact Me
    • Meet Gizmo, Our Foodie Pug
  • Cook's Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recent Posts
  • Recipes
  • My Cookbook
  • About
  • Cook’s Shop
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recent Posts
  • Recipes
  • My Cookbook
  • About
  • Cook’s Shop
×
Home » Blog Recipe Posts » Dinner

Cheesy Taco Pasta Casserole

March 6, 2025 by Sandy Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe

Cheesy Taco Pasta Casserole is a creamy, flavorful, easy dinner recipe. You can make this pasta meal and have it on the table in less than an hour! Made with simple ingredients like ground beef, Rotel or salsa, taco seasoning, pasta and cheese, this is a great comfort food dinner, and an affordable meal to make.

Taco Pasta on a white plate

 

Taco Pasta

Who had Hamburger Helper growing up? We did! This recipe is similar, and gives all the feels of that nostalgic meal of our childhoods.

pasta dish on a white plate.

As you can see in the image below, the ingredients are simple and easy to find. Not to mention, affordable.

This easy Taco Pasta recipe is versatile, so you can make it with what you have or what you prefer.

Cheesy Taco Pasta Casserole ingredients shot
The ingredients in this easy Taco Pasta recipe are simple and give this casserole great flavor.

Ingredient Substitutions

Ground Beef – Use ground turkey in place of the beef.
Mexican Blend Cheese – You can substitute with pepper Jack, cheddar, or Monterey Jack.
Rotel – Use 2 cups of your favorite salsa instead.
Rotini Pasta – Use any pasta shape that can hold the sauce, medium Shells are a great option.
Additions – Try adding some canned black beans that have been rinsed & drained, corn kernels, or even sliced black olives.

How to Make Taco Pasta Recipe

3 image collage of cooking ground beef with onion and adding seasonings and broth.
1) Brown Ground beef and onion in a skillet. Meanwhile, cook pasta to al dente.
2) Add minced Garlic, Taco Seasoning, Rotel Diced Tomatoes w/Green Chilies, Tomato Sauce and Beef Broth. Stir.
3) Add in the cooked pasta.

3 image collage of pasta with ingredients added and in a baking dish.
4) Stir sour cream into pasta / meat sauce.
5) Transfer to a sprayed 9x13-inch baking dish.
6) Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top and bake until heated through and cheese is melted.
7) Serve with chips, green onions, avocado, or any garnish you like.

forkful of pasta with cheese pull.

blue rectangle saying you might also like
Here are some delicious easy dinner ideas:
Ravioli Lasagna with Meat Sauce
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers
Easy Crock Pot Beef Stew
Air Fryer Pork Loin Roast

Don't Forget About Dessert!

Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Easy Peach Potluck Cake

pink rectangle with words follow me on Pinterest

If you make this Cheesy Taco Pasta Casserole, please leave a comment with a star rating below. I'd like to know your thoughts!

Cheesy Taco Pasta Casserole on a white plate
Print
Cheesy Taco Pasta Casserole
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Cheesy Taco Pasta Casserole is a delicious easy recipe with simple ingredients. The rotini pasta holds the flavorful sauce. A great weeknight dinner.

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: ground beef, pasta dinner
Servings: 6
Calories: 698 kcal
Author: Sandy Clifton
Ingredients
  • 16 ounces Rotini Pasta
  • 1 pound Ground beef
  • 1 Onion diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 1-ounce packet Taco Seasoning
  • 1 10-ounce can *Rotel Diced Tomatoes w/Green Chilies, undrained
  • 1 15-ounce can Tomato Sauce
  • 1 cup Beef Broth
  • 2 cups Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend
  • ½ cup Sour Cream
  • ¼ cup Sliced Green Onions
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and onion. Cook until beef is no longer pink and onion is softened, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
  3. Meanwhile, cook rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

  4. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.

  5. Stir in taco seasoning, Rotel tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
  6. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream until fully combined.

  7. Add the cooked pasta and mix until evenly coated.
  8. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with all of the cheese.
  9. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted.
  10. Let stand 5 minutes, then sprinkle with green onions before serving.
Recipe Notes

*Use 2 cups of your favorite salsa in place of the Rotel®.

More Dinner

  • 2 Pork Tenderloins sliced in a skillet
    Easy Baked Pork Tenderloin
  • Steak Bites over mashed potatoes on plate with corn.
    Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites
  • Apple Cider Pot Roast on a white platter with carrots and potatoes.
    Apple Cider Pot Roast
  • air fryer pork roast on black plate with slices
    Air Fryer Pork Loin Roast

Sharing is caring!

47 shares
  • Tweet
  • Share

My Instant Pot Cookbook is Here!

Instant Pot Cookbook Cover

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi there! I’m Sandy - foodie with a passion for cooking and sharing my tasty recipes. My hubby Paul, our Pug Gizmo, and I live in Washington.

Sandy wearing a black shirt and a red apron

More about me →

Reader Favorite Recipes

  • Easy Slow Cooker Meatloaf on a white plate garnished with parsley
    Easy Slow Cooker Meatloaf
  • Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak
    Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak
  • Slow Cooker Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
    Slow Cooker Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
  • Short Ribs over mashed potatoes on a black plate next to a bunch of fresh parsley
    Instant Pot Short Ribs

More favorites

Footer

↑ back to top

Copyrighted Content
This website and its contents are the copyright of Simply Happy Foodie LLC – © 2016-2025.  All rights reserved.

Disclaimers

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

About

  • About
  • Contact
  • Meet Gizmo, Our Foodie Pug

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Cheesy Taco Pasta Casserole
Cheesy Taco Pasta Casserole