Cheesy Taco Pasta Dish (Print Version)

A flavorful Tex-Mex dish combining tender pasta, seasoned beef, beans, corn, and melted cheese sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meat & Protein

01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Pasta

04 - 8 oz short pasta (penne, shells, or rotini)

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 cup canned corn, drained
08 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
09 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juices

→ Liquids

10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or beef broth

→ Seasonings

11 - 2 tbsp taco seasoning
12 - 1/2 tsp salt, adjust to taste
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

14 - Chopped fresh cilantro
15 - Sliced green onions
16 - Sour cream

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the finely chopped onion to the beef and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Sprinkle taco seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the beef and vegetables. Stir well to evenly coat all ingredients.
04 - Add drained corn, black beans, diced tomatoes with their juices, pasta, and broth. Stir thoroughly to combine.
05 - Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - Remove from heat and sprinkle shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the pasta. Cover and let sit 2 to 3 minutes until cheese has melted.
07 - Gently stir the melted cheese into the pasta. Serve warm, optionally garnished with chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, and a dollop of sour cream.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's genuinely done in one pot, which means less cleanup and more time for what actually matters.
  • The flavors come together without fussy techniques—your timing can be loose and it still turns out delicious.
  • Kids and adults disappear into seconds without complaint, and that's a quiet victory on any evening.
02 -
  • Don't rinse the pasta before adding it—the starch it carries helps thicken the sauce into something creamy rather than soupy.
  • Cheese begins to separate if you stir it over direct heat, so let it melt gently off the burner and fold it in with a gentle hand.
03 -
  • If your skillet isn't deep enough to hold everything comfortably, use a Dutch oven—the sides prevent splattering and the lid traps steam perfectly.
  • Don't skip draining the canned ingredients well; excess liquid dilutes your sauce and extends cooking time.
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