Taco Pasta Casserole is your new secret weapon for a stress-free, cheesy, delicious weeknight dinner. Toss together a few simple ingredients, bake it up, and in about 30 minutes, you will have a hot, satisfying meal that the whole family will love.
Weeknight dinners can feel like a never-ending battle between time, taste, and kid-approval. This effortlessly easy dish is an excellent solution since it contains all the flavors of your favorite tacos in a comfort food casserole.
It is easy to customize. Pile on your favorite taco toppings—like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, olives, or jalapenos. I love this casserole with sliced avocado, while my daughter adds lots of olives, which my husband hates!
The variety guarantees a win with even the pickiest eaters. And we all need low-stress meals for busy days! In this post, I’ll discuss everything you need to know to make this mouthwatering dish at home, from the simple, budget-friendly ingredients to the step-by-step instructions.
If you love casseroles, I have many more recipes! Try Million Dollar Casserole, French Onion Casserole, or Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole for more easy, low-stress dinner ideas.
🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Pasta: I like to use shells or elbow macaroni because they’re the ideal size for capturing all those delicious taco flavors, but use whatever small pasta you have in your pantry.
- Ground beef
- Olive oil
- Onion, diced
- Garlic
- Taco seasoning: To make life easier, I like using a pre-mixed taco seasoning blend, but if you’re feeling extra creative, you can make your own with chili powder, cumin, paprika, and any other spices you love.
- Coriander
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded cheddar cheese
🥣How to Make a Taco Casserole with Pasta
- Preheat your oven to 395 degrees F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- While the oven is preheating, cook your pasta according to the package instructions until it’s al dente.
- Heat a large skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic and sauté for a couple of minutes until the beef is browned and the onion is translucent.
- Add the taco seasoning, chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, and cooked pasta to the skillet. Stir until it’s well combined and heated through.
- Add 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the skillet and stir until it’s melted and gooey.
- Transfer the mixture to your prepared baking dish and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese on top. Pop it in the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
🍴Serving Ideas
Now that you’ve got a hot, cheesy, and delicious Beef Taco Pasta Casserole fresh out of the oven, it’s time to dish it up and dig in!
I love topping each serving with a dollop of cool, creamy sour cream. It’s the perfect contrast to taco meat and pasta’s warm, spicy flavors. For a burst of freshness and color, sprinkle diced tomatoes and chopped cilantro over each bowl.
If you’re a fan of avocado (and who isn’t?), try slicing up some ripe avocado and arranging it on top of each serving. The buttery, rich flavor of the avocado pairs beautifully with the bold, zesty flavors of the taco casserole.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the sides! This taco casserole is fantastic on its own, but to round out the meal, try serving it with a simple green salad, some roasted veggies, or even some warm, buttery corn on the cob.
💭How to Store
One of the best things about this Beef Taco Pasta Casserole is that it makes a big batch, which means you’ll likely have some leftovers to enjoy later in the week. Once cooled, transfer any leftover casserole to an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid.
Pop the container in the fridge; your leftover taco casserole will last up to 5 days. When you’re ready to reheat, scoop out your desired portion and zap it in the microwave for a minute or two, stirring halfway through.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- While the recipe calls for ground beef, you could easily swap it out for ground turkey, shredded chicken, or some plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version.
- To make cleanup easier, you can make this in a large cast iron skillet and just put the skillet right in the oven to bake instead of using a casserole dish.
- To sneak in some extra veggies, add chopped bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach to the skillet when browning the beef.
- If you’re looking to up the spice factor, add some diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the skillet when mixing everything together. You could also drizzle some hot sauce over each serving for an extra kick.
📝Reader Questions
Yes! You can assemble the casserole 24 hours in advance and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or foil, and add 5-10 minutes to the baking time since it’ll go into the oven cold.
Sure! While I love the classic cheddar cheese, you could use a Mexican blend, some pepper jack for a spicy kick, or even some creamy queso fresco.
The spice level of this casserole will depend on the type of taco seasoning you use and any extra spices you add. If you’re sensitive to heat, start with a mild taco seasoning, and don’t add extra jalapeños or cayenne pepper. You can always add more heat later if you want it.
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Taco Casserole with Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta shells, or elbow macaroni
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons coriander chopped
- 1 can diced tomatoes 14 ounces
- 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 395 degrees F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta following the package instructions until it is al dente.8 ounces pasta
- Heat a large skillet with oil on medium heat. Saute beef, onion, and garlic for 2 minutes.1 lb ground beef, 1 medium onion, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Now add taco seasoning, coriander, diced tomatoes and pasta. Stir all together. When hot, add ½ cup of cheese and stir.3 tablespoons taco seasoning, 2 tablespoons coriander, 1 can diced tomatoes, 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Remove the casserole from the stove and transfer it to the 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the top with shredded cheddar and bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is nicely melted.
- Open the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before removing and serving.
Notes
- Add your favorite taco toppings when serving the casserole.
- You can easily swap it out for ground turkey, shredded chicken, or some plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version.
- To make cleanup easier, you can make this in a large cast iron skillet and just put the skillet right in the oven to bake instead of using a casserole dish.
- To sneak in some extra veggies, add chopped bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach to the skillet when browning the beef.
- If you’re looking to up the spice factor, add some diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the skillet when mixing everything together. You could also drizzle some hot sauce over it when serving.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
