Cheesy Taco Pasta is easy to make and tastes like the Hamburger Helper you used to eat as a kid, except so much better. Try it tonight!
Hamburger Helpers are a nostalgic and crowd-pleasing boxed meal. I’ve made homemade versions, like this one, Bacon and Cheeseburger, Pepperoni Pizza, and Philly Cheesesteak for an elevated, but still easy, Pasta Dinner!
Sabrina’s Cheesy Taco Pasta Recipe
Cheesy Taco Pasta is my nod to the Hamburger Helper I grew up eating as a kid. This isn’t exactly the “crunchy taco hamburger helper,” I skipped adding the tortilla chips. However, the ooey-gooey meat and cheesy sauce are still the same, and with just a few ingredients! Plus, you can always add crushed tortilla chips to the top. Then you’ll really be reliving some awesome childhood Hamburger Helper memories.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound large shells pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning , (or 1 packet)
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup jarred salsa
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the shelled pasta according to the directions on the box and drain.
- Add the ground beef to the pan and brown well.
- Drain the fat.
- Add the taco seasoning and ¾ cup of water, stir and cook until water is gone.
- Add the pasta back into the pot with the salsa and cheese.
- Stir to combine.
- Serve immediately, preferably with crunchy tortilla chips (optional) on top.
Nutrition
Want to save this recipe? Create a free account to easily save your favorite recipes
Table of contents
About this Recipe
If you love extra cheesy food, you’ll love this recipe! I added only a single cup of cheese, but you can add up to 2 cups of cheese. You could also just serve more cheese with other toppings, like tortilla strips, sour cream, and fresh tomatoes, so that everyone can add as much as they like.
Kitchen Tools and Ingredients
- Cast Iron Skillet: You want a big skillet, preferably 12 inches, that is a bit deep so that you can mix everything without losing any of that flavor you built searing the meat.
- Jarred Salsa: Using your favorite jarred salsa cuts the prep time down to just a couple of minutes, and the flavors are still outstanding. You could also use my Homemade Salsa Recipe for a more gourmet option.
- Taco Seasoning: Buy a packet of premade taco seasoning at the store, or use my Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe to make your own with common pantry spices.
Can I make It Ahead of Time?
You can cook the pasta recipe now and freeze it to enjoy at a later date. I’d skip adding the cheese and when you defrost it, use a cup of chicken or beef stock to revitalize the sauce. Then once warmed through add the cheese, mix and serve.
How to Store
- Store: After cooking, don’t leave this pasta recipe at room temperature for more than 2 hours. You can let the leftovers cool, then transfer them to an airtight container to keep fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: For another storage option, seal the recipe in a freezer bag and keep it frozen for up to 3 months. You can let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheat: You can reheat the cheesy pasta over medium-low heat on the stovetop, or in 30-second increments in the microwave. Add a splash of water or broth to keep the recipe from drying out, and stir as you reheat it.
Looking for more cheesy pasta dishes?
These photos were used in previous versions of this post.
I made this recipe for the first time three years ago and my family loved it, especially my cousin. This cannot stay in my house long enough. Paired with some sour cream and iceberg lettuce, it’s excellent.
Nummy
Made this tonight and added some Velveeta. It’s fantastic!
This turned out sooooo good! I didn’t have taco seasoning packet so I ended up making my own. Also instead of salsa I added Rotel!
Paired with a tostada and sour cream it was AMAZING! 10/10
What can you substitute for the salsa?
I used Rotel!
Excellent! Made this tonight without making any changes or substitutions and my husband requested this to be in our rotation! Thank you for making me look good.
I made this with Prego Traditional pasta sauce since I didn’t have any salsa. One of my kids liked it so much he asked if he could take it to school for lunch. My other child however didn’t like it at all.
Really good! I didn’t have the right type of noodles, so I had to change the measurements up a little bit, but still delicious! I recommend serving with sour cream.
Thanks so much putting this recipe up. I made as I read and my husband and I love it. It came so cheesy and it really taste like a Taco!!! Keep up the great work!!!
Absolutely delicious, will double next time as our family of 5 all came back for seconds! Huge hit, thank you!
This is actually really good it tastes as good as the picture looks. I added diced avocado, Roma tomatoes and red onion as a topper too! Even my toddlers that never eat tacos loved it. Big hit in my house of 7!
I added cilantro, mild diced chiles, and onions…it was a hit.
Yum!!!!
Finally reviewing after making this a bunch of times for my family of 6 over the last few years! It’s rare that everyone agrees on food and they all like this! I generally make it as written (using mild taco seasoning and target g&g mild salsa), maybe adding a bit more cheese, or offering additional cheese as a topping for those that want it. Tonight I used ground Turkey and it was just as good as the ground beef – and I’m not the biggest ground Turkey fan! This is easy and tasty and can totally be customized depending on family preferences or what you have on hand. Thanks, Sabrina, for a total winner! (And sorry for waiting so long to give this the 5 stars it deserves!)
Thanks, Brandi! I find it awesome you were able to make this in many different ways! So glad you like it! Thank you for your support!
I tend to make dinner for the adults in the house and my daughter who is extremely picky I always make a second meal for her because she never seems to like anything that we eat. I tried this and she looked at it and saw the ingredients and asked if she could try it of course I was more than thrilled and when she ate it and said she wanted a bowl for dinner I couldn’t have been happier. My picky eater now finally has a dish other than my spaghetti that she will eat with the family and for me that’s always a win!
This is awesome Lauren! So glad she enjoyed it!
Could you leave the salsa out?
This was a big hit. I doubled the recipe, cooked it in a casserole and added more cheese on top. I will make it again for sure!
This looks good going to try it with veggie meat. What would you suggest adding for sides ?
Maybe beans or a salad?
for our sides we did Rice Roni’s spanish rice and some refried beans! Was a hit with everyone!!!!
Made a big batch to feed a bunch of boys and enhanced it with black beans, green chilies, Rotel tomatoes, and used Medium chunky salsa. This made it have just enough kick where my boys loved it!
I’ve made this a few times and have adjusted it to my tastes. I add some diced onion, jalapeños, garlic, corn, black beans and a can of tomato sauce. I also really love heat so instead of taco seasoning, I use a generous mix of chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, ancho pepper powder, hot sauce and black pepper. Serve with a dollop of sour cream – delish! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Thanks Kenzie! Those additions sound delicious.
Baby I made this for 4 picky eaters(ages:8,4,2,1). The pan was clean. Great recipe
This was so good.. I put my own little touch on it.. I added black olives, cut up some fresh green onions and cliantro, and when served I topped with a little sour cream and avocados…. Thank you so much for the inspiration…
This was amazing! I have 3 teenage boys, so I doubled the recipe and almost tripled the cheese (We love cheese). It was packed with flavor and tasted nothing like that crappy Hamburger Helper stuff! This will definitely be added to my list of family favorite recipes.
I used what I already had on hand: Laura’s lean ground beef (96/4), Kroger brand “salad shells,” (not the small), Kroger brand taco seasoning packets, Tostitos mild salsa, and freshly grated Kroger brand sharp cheddar cheese.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I will definitely check out some of the others you’ve shared.
Thank you!!!!!
I love seeing this, thank you!
This is the 3rd time making this recipe. It is so good!! Everyone in the house loved it as well. Thank you!!
Love it! Thanks for the 5 stars, Nancy.
I see that this dish has eight servings, for 316 cal each. However, how much is one serving?? Is it a cup? One and a half cups? I want to make this but I have a daughter counting calories so I always help her with dinners and calorie counts.
I’d say about 1 cup. If you’re looking for exact, you might want to use your own online calculator to get a more precise measurement. I hope you all enjoy it.
Hi. I feel like I missed this some where. Can you freeze this?
The dish looks amazing!
Yes, you can freeze it though I might wait to add the cheese until after it’s defrosted and add a bit of beef stock to warm it back up. Once it’s warmed, then add the cheese. Hope this helps!
Not all taco seasoning and/or salsa is the same needless to say, so I went with my tried & true brands here — Herdez Salsa Casera & Tones taco seasoning. Turned out a winner.
I made this exactly as written for a quick dinner on Saturday night. The husband and son are huge pasta lovers and both gave it thumbs up.
It was not that bad I put some motzerella ok it and it was good
Quick, easy, and delicious. I added an extra cup and a half of cheddar; embarrassed to admit how addicted to cheese we are. I agree that the crushed chips add to it. Thanks for a great recipe. I will be making this often.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Debbie!
I made a small batch to test it and it was so good that I then made a double batch. This recipe is a keeper!!
Yay!!
Question, can you use a full pound of shells? I’d rather not have to half the box.
You might want to increase the other amounts so it’s not too pasta heavy. You want to make sure you have enough of the other ingredients. Good luck!
I want to make this so bad but all I have is mac n cheese noodles could I still use them?
Yes, I did you will need to extra everything so your ratios are good. I used a box and doubled my taco season to 2 pkts, for my salsa I used 15 oz, for my cheese I used 8oz, for my water I used (2) 3/4 cups, and added a teaspoon of sourcream at end.. personal preference it made it creamer.
I added 1tsp of chili powder and 1.5 tsp of garlic powder, a chopped onion and bell pepper,skipped the pasta, and served it with the cheese, chips and lettuce as a salad. It would also make a good party dip like this.
I added chopped onions, jalapeños, and some cream cheese. It’s delicious and super easy! Thanks for sharing it!
You’re welcome, Ana.
This is an easy go-to dinner for dinner on the fly, delicious too!
Can I substitute shredded cheese with Velveeta cheese. Also add onions, bell pepper, and corn.
Sure 🙂
I think I will add Velveeta cheese instead of shredded cheese.
This was a tasty and hearty meal after a heavy snowfall. I used an entire 12 oz. jar of corn and black bean salsa and it was absorbed into the pasta very quickly. I used finely shredded Mexican cheese in place of cheddar. The crushed tortilla chips added a nice crunch to the dish. I agree with previous comments that this dish is best eaten immediately vs. as leftovers.
Fabulous! I used a different pasta I had.
Easily works with whatever pasta is your favorite! Thanks for the 5 stars, Abby.
Fabulous. I was running out of time so I looked for something I can make quick and this is a perfect recipe!!
The second time I made this, I layered the meat and seasoned shells in a casserole dish with the cheese, which I doubled, and baked for 20 minutes. I liked the flavor better this way as the cheese seems to melt away when I mix it in the pot on the stove top. Excellent recipe, will definitely be making this again.
This is super easy but Awesome! My husband Loves this and loves it leftovers for his lunch. My sons and their friends like this and always empty their plates! It’s always a hit. I double the recipe! Thank you!
It was delicious! Thank you!! Loved it and made it with brown rice noodles.
Thank you . Our son liked it and now he has a meal for lunch as well!!
Can u substitute large shells with medium shells
Sure
Much prefer medium shells, which I think are just right.
Picture looks like small shells…?
Camera tricks!
I thought this was delicious. However, I did not use salsa, instead I used diced tomatoes & green chilies. Turned out AWE-SOME! thank you for this easy recipe!
Can you make it without the salsa
Yes, but I would replace it with canned diced tomatoes. Enjoy!
Hi ! I once did this recipe but it was not with the same ingredients ! I remember it having philadelphia cheese and some seasonned tomatoes in a can, i was just wondering if you’ve changed the recipe or if its another one ? I love the other version so much !!
Hmm, I didn’t change this one but I can’t think of another one like this with cream cheese.
Yum! I have made this twice now, and it was a hit both times! Another keeper. Hubby now requests this. So easy and delicious!
I’m glad you loved it enough to give it a 5 star rating, Amanda.
Pretty tasty and simple to make, made it twice already. I reccomend buying a high-quality salsa since most of the flavour will come from that, and if you can’t find taco seasoning then paprika, pepper and salt do just fine for a DIY solution.
This was easy, quick and delicious. Perfect weeknight dinner and kid approved! I used 93% lean ground beef and shredded reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese to make it WW friendly and still very delicious!
I’m so glad you all enjoyed it!
I have had this recipie pinned for months and I finally got around to make it and absolutely LOVED it! This will absolutely be staple for me going a staple going forward
Yay!! Thanks for the 5 stars, Liv.
I have diabetes, and am always looking for dishes that are quick, easy, and reasonably tasty and healthy. This dish meets all of those requirements: It’s SO easy to make; you can cook the pasta and meat in separate pots – at the same time – for time savings; and the seasoning and salsa make the meat very tasty. The cheese is an added bonus and helps fill you up!! Definitely going into the favorites rotation.
(One caveat: it is definitely best when served right away, but the leftovers do heat up nicely with some chicken or beef stock.)
Thank you for an awesome website!
You’re welcome, Kat.