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    Home » Casseroles

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    Taco Pasta Casserole

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Hearty, cheesy, and easy to make, our Taco Pasta Casserole is the perfect weeknight dinner.

    Table of Contents

    • Taco Tuesday Meets Comfort Food
    • Why You'll Love this Taco Pasta Casserole
    • Key Ingredients for Taco Pasta Bake
    • How to Make Cheesy Taco Pasta Bake
    • Make Ahead and Storage Instructions 
    • FAQs
      • 1. Do you cook pasta before baking?
      • 2. How long is taco casserole good for in the fridge?
      • 3. How do you reheat taco pasta?
    • More Casserole Recipes
    • What to Serve with a Beef Taco Pasta Casserole
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Taco Pasta Casserole
      • Ingredients 1x2x3x
        • For cooking:
        • For serving:
      • Instructions
      • Notes
      • Equipment
      • Nutrition

    Taco Tuesday Meets Comfort Food

    Our Taco Pasta Casserole is the best of both worlds—classic tacos and a hearty casserole. Our Taco Pasta Casserole will feed the whole family on the cheap and might just become your preferred way to enjoy your favorite taco flavors.

    A dish full of Taco Pasta Casserole.

    If you’re looking for more Taco Tuesday inspiration, check out our Taco Pasta Salad, Creamy Taco Soup, Easy Ground Beef Tacos, and One Pot Taco Spaghetti.

    Why You'll Love this Taco Pasta Casserole

    Two servings of Taco Pasta Casserole in bowls with toppings on a table.
    • It’s filling. Like most good casseroles, this meal will not leave you feeling hungry. It’s a great meal to pull out when you need a hearty meal that the whole family will love.
    • It’s easy to make. This recipe isn’t complicated. Once you’ve cooked the pasta and ground beef, you can assemble everything and bake. 25 minutes later, you’ll have a hot meal on the table! Your folks don't even need to assemble their own tacos! Just scoop and enjoy.
    • Simple ingredients. We’re not dealing with anything fancy here, just some staple pantry ingredients that are easy to get your hands on!
    • Leftovers. Ever tried to reboot some taco leftovers? Yeah, those soggy tortilla shells are not gonna have that. But guess what? This Taco Pasta Casserole is built for the second act! It makes the perfect microwaved lunch for the next day and it can even go in the freezer!

    Key Ingredients for Taco Pasta Bake

    Ingredients on a table for a Taco Pasta Casserole recipe.
    • Pasta - You can’t have a pasta casserole without pasta! We used tri-color rotini for this recipe (cuz it's pretty), but you can also use shells, cavatappi, or penne.
    • Ground beef - You’ll need a pound of beef.
    • Homemade taco seasoning - We recommend that you use this homemade taco seasoning, but you can also use store-bought if you’re in a rush. 
    • Tomatoes - You’ll need tomato sauce and a can of tomatoes and green chiles.
    • CHEESE - We used shredded Mexican blend cheese, but you could substitute a cheddar and pepper jack blend instead.

    How to Make Cheesy Taco Pasta Bake

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
    2. Cook the pasta. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, then set aside.
    3. Brown the beef and onions. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the beef, breaking it up into large chunks and spreading it evenly across the pan. Allow to brown, undisturbed, for about 3 minutes, then flip and continue to cook until browned on all sides, about 7-8 minutes total. Add the onion and saute until softened, another 5 minutes. Drain off any excess grease then sprinkle the mixture with taco seasoning.
    1. Add sauces. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomatoes and green chilies, sour cream, and frozen corn. Heat through, taste, then season as needed with additional salt and pepper.
    2. Combine. Add the ground beef mixture to the cooked pasta, stirring to combine.
    3. Add cheese and bake. Spread the mixture in the prepared pan, then top with cheese. Bake for 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and browned.
    4. Serve with your favorite taco toppings!
    A served dish of Taco Pasta Casserole.

    Make Ahead and Storage Instructions 

    • The casserole can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and kept in the fridge. Take the pan out of the fridge while the oven preheats. Bake as usual.
    • Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for about 4 days. Reheat large portions in the oven. Single portions can be microwaved.
    A scoop is taken out of a Taco Pasta Casserole.

    FAQs

    1. Do you cook pasta before baking?

    Yes. You’ll want to cook the pasta until al dente.

    2. How long is taco casserole good for in the fridge?

    Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for about 4 days. 

    3. How do you reheat taco pasta?

    Reheat large portions in the oven. Single portions can be microwaved.

    A bowl of Taco Pasta Casserole topped with sour cream, jalapenos and cilantro.

    More Casserole Recipes

    You can’t go wrong with casseroles! Here are some of our favorites: Tortellini Bake, Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole, and Cheesy Company Casserole.

    What to Serve with a Beef Taco Pasta Casserole

    Wondering what to serve with a hearty casserole? We’ve got you covered! Check out these great side dishes: Skillet Garlic Green Beans, Easy Garden Salad, and Homemade Amish Bread.

    📖 Recipe

    A baking dish full of cheesy taco pasta casserole topped with cilantro and jalapenos.

    Taco Pasta Casserole

    With simple ingredients and easy instructions, this Taco Pasta Casserole is the perfect weeknight dinner!
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    Print Pin
    Prep Time: 25 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 25 minutes mins
    Total Time: 50 minutes mins
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 318kcal

    Ingredients
     

    For cooking:

    • 12 ounces rotini pasta
    • Olive oil (to coat)
    • 1 lb. ground beef
    • 1 yellow onion (chopped)
    • 2 Tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
    • 15 oz. can of tomato sauce
    • 14.5 oz. can of tomatoes and green chilies
    • ¼ cup sour cream (plus more for serving)
    • 1 ½ cups frozen corn
    • Salt and pepper (to taste)
    • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

    For serving:

    • Cilantro
    • Jalapeno
    • Sour cream
    • Shredded lettuce
    • Crushed tortilla chips

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
    • Cook the pasta. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, then set aside.
    • Brown the beef and onions. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the beef, breaking it up into large chunks and spreading it evenly across the pan. Allow to brown, undisturbed, for about 3 minutes, then flip and continue to cook until browned on all sides, about 7-8 minutes total. Add the onion and saute until softened, another 5 minutes. Drain off any excess grease then sprinkle the mixture with taco seasoning.
    • Add sauces. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomatoes and green chilies, sour cream, and frozen corn. Heat through, taste, then season as needed with additional salt and pepper.
    • Combine. Add the ground beef mixture to the cooked pasta, stirring to combine.
    • Add cheese and bake. Spread the mixture in the prepared pan, then top with cheese. Bake for 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and browned.
    • Serve with your favorite taco toppings!

    Notes

    • This casserole can be served with any and/or all of your favorite taco toppings. We liked it with extra sour cream, cilantro, jalapeno, and crushed tortilla chips.
    • Could add additional vegetables, like bell peppers.
    • Could sub a cheddar and pepper jack blend for the cheese.
    • Can use other pastas, including shells, cavatappi, or penne.
    Make Ahead and Storage Instructions:
    • The casserole can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and kept in the fridge. Take the pan out of the fridge while the oven preheats. Bake as usual.
    • Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for about 4 days. Reheat large portions in the oven. Single portions can be microwaved.

    Equipment

    large nonstick skillet
    9 x 13 inch baking dish
    wooden spoon
    chefs knife
    cutting board
    can opener
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Keyword beef taco bake, cheesy taco pasta bake, ground beef pasta casserole, pasta casserole, taco casserole, taco pasta bake, taco pasta casserole

    Nutrition

    Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 385mg | Potassium: 451mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 454IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 258mg | Iron: 2mg

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