One Pot Taco Pasta
This delicious One Pot Taco Pasta is an explosion of flavors! It has ground meat, salsa, cheese, olives, and all the amazing taco flavors right in there. What's more, it's so easy that the pasta is made in just one pot and cooks in its own sauce!
Servings: 7
Calories: 514kcal
Ingredients
Pasta ingredients
- 3 cups boiling water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 tablespoon dried onion flakes or ½ small yellow onion
- 1 ½ lbs ground beef
- 1.25 oz packet of taco seasoning (35 grams) (instructions added for homemade, if preferred)
- 24 oz jar of chunky salsa
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1 lb penne
- 3 oz sliced black olives (about ½ can) (85 grams)
- 2 cups shredded cheese (Monterey Jack, Colby, mozzarella...)
- ½ bunch cilantro
Homemade Taco Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (add about ½ teaspoon if using table salt)
Instructions
- Start boiling 3 cups of water. While water comes to a boil, continue with the next steps.
- In a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat, add olive oil and saute garlic. Then add onion and ground beef. Cook until no longer pink, breaking any clumps that may form.
- Add taco seasoning, salsa, boiling water, and salt, stirring to combine. Leave it on high heat until it starts boiling again.
- Add pasta and stir it well, ensuring all pasta is submerged. Lower the heat, close the lid, and cook it for the time stated on the pasta package.
- Once pasta is 'al dente' or to your liking, turn off the heat, add olives and cheese, and finish with cilantro. Mix it all up and enjoy.
For the Homemade Taco seasoning (if using)
- In a small container that contains a lid, add all ingredients, close, and shake to mix.
- Use the amount called in the recipe (about 2 Tablespoons) and save the rest for the future.
Notes
Read the section 'Ingredients and substitutions' for many possible changes in this recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 514kcal | Carbohydrates: 54.2g | Protein: 39.1g | Fat: 13.9g | Saturated Fat: 3.9g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 1348mg | Potassium: 687mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 7.3g | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 6mg