Taco Cream Cheese Pasta, cheesy

A one pot cheesy taco pasta recipe that is made with ground beef and pasta in a creamy sauce. An straightforward recipe that is ready in 30 minutes for dinner tonight.

This taco pasta is so good. It has a little spicy kick that isn’t too spicy and we're such a pasta & cheese lover that we could eat the whole pan.

What we love about Cheesy Taco Pasta

One pot meal – everything is made entirely in one pot. Fewer dishes mean more time to eat and more time with family.

Straightforward to cook – Since everything is made together in one pot, it’s minimal effort with maximum results.

30-minute meal – The only cooking time comes from browning the meat and waiting for the pasta to cook. You can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.

Plain ingredients – All of the ingredients are straightforward to find.

One Pot Taco Pasta ingredients

• Ground Beef – we like to use 97% lean ground beef, but any ground beef will work. If you use a fattier version, you’ll need to drain it once it’s browned.
• Tomato Sauce – we use canned tomato sauce. If you use a ‘no salt added’ kind, you may need to add additional salt.
• Enchilada Sauce – our favorite brand to use is Gebhardt. They make a lot of different enchilada sauces, but Gebhardt red enchilada sauce is the one we like a house favorite.
• Reduced-Sodium Beef Broth – we use reduced-sodium beef broth because the other ingredients already have salt in them. It’s not required, but keep the salt content in mind.
• Water – You’ll need a little water to help the pasta cook.
• Taco Seasoning – we use our From-scratch taco seasoning, but store-bought works great too.
• Onion Powder – our family doesn’t like chunks of onion so we go with onion powder here.
• Garlic – fresh minced garlic is best here.
• Reduced–Fat Cream Cheese – Go with reduced-fat or full fat. We don’t recommend using fat-free. It does not get as creamy.
• Pasta – any pasta shape is fine. We like elbows or shells in this.
• Sharp Cheddar Shredded Cheese – we prefer sharp cheddar cheese in this because it adds a lot of flavor. You can use any type of cheese that you like.

How to make Taco Pasta with Cream Cheese

Detailed instructions and measurements to make one pot cheesy taco pasta are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

1. In a deep skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and season with taco seasoning and onion powder. Once it has browned and is cooked through, add in the garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
2. Add enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Mix to combine.
3. Bring to a boil, add the pasta, mix, and turn down to a simmer.
4. Cover and simmer stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes until pasta is cooked.
5. Remove the lid and stir the mixture. Turn your burner down to low.
6. Add the cream cheese in pieces. Mix them in until they melt. Once that has melted, add in the shredded cheese. Mix to combine and let it melt.
7. Serve it up with your favorite toppings and a little extra cheese.

Taco Pasta Recipe with Cream Cheese tips

• You can add in extras and your favorite taco items. We like adding black beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, and corn.
• If you use pasta that’s larger than elbow or shells, you may need a little more cooking time.
• If your stove cooks a little hot (even on low), you may need to add additional liquid so that the pasta can fully cook through.

One Pot Creamy Taco Pasta toppings

You can serve this with all of your favorite taco toppings. We like topping ours with cheese, sour cream, and avocado. Other great toppings include tortilla strips, cilantro, and lettuce.

Cheesy Taco Cream Cheese Pasta variations

Ground beef – you can substitute with ground turkey if you don’t want red meat or would like to lower the calories, ground turkey works great.

Sharp cheddar cheese – you can use mild cheddar, Monterey jack, or pepper jack cheese.

Do you want it extra spicy?

You can add extra chili powder, green chile, or even chopped jalapeno to this to amp up the spice.

How to store Cheesy Taco Pasta

To store cheesy pasta, allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, place it in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or the freezer for up to 6 months.

Taco Pasta with Cream Cheese as a freezer meal

To convert this into a freezer meal, add all the ingredients (except the pasta and cheese) to a gallon freezer Ziploc. When you’re ready to cook, remove from the freezer, throw in the skillet and proceed as normal.

Taco Pasta Recipe with Cream Cheese FAQs