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
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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.
We have some picky eaters in the house if I omit the salsa will it be ok or is the salsa nessary thanks
The salsa gives extra flavor to round out the taco-ness of it, but you can omit it. If it’s a spicy issue, you can substitute 1 cup of canned petite diced tomatoes.
This by far is the easiest recipe with few ingredients and was a hit! When it was done I had to taste it and it was so good..however it seems I never learn that when you let something with pasta sit too long it soaks up the juice.. I started it too early hence it sat for like 10-15 min..don’t do that and you will love! Thanks for this quick, easy and delicious recipe!!!
You’re welcome Annie. Thanks for the good feedback and five star review.
I have cooked this for my family so many times! It is easy and delicious. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome Renee and thanks for the five star review.
I see there are 6 servings, but what is the serving size?
This is delicious!
Our nutrition values are created by a nutrition calculator. Feel free to use your own nutrition calculators with the recipe ingredients. Serving sizes become an issue because people will have ingredients of different sizes. Packaged products are weighed and measured at the time of creation which makes their measurements accurate. The only way to accurately know the measurements of meals is to weigh and divide.
my family loves this recipe. Only thing I do differently is I blend up the salsa, so there’s no chunks for my picky eaters 😉
Good idea Tracy and thanks for the five star review!
My whole family loves this recipe. I always add a can of black beans and a can of corn to make it stretch a little further… and the kids will try anything with corn. We top with extra cheese & sour cream, with the option of taco sauce for the “heat” lovers.
Sounds amazing Michelle and thanks for the five star review!
Do you drain the corn and beas?
Yes you do Keshia! Let us know how your recipe turns out!
2nd time making this. I added chopped onions and a little more taco seasoning. Everyone loved it
Glad it was a hit and thanks for the five star review, Lenora!
ALL my grandkids love this! I always use my immersion blender to get rid of the chunks in the salsa (kids don’t like to see chunks of tomato, onion, peppers, etc.). Tonight I made it for a picky granddaughter. To “temper” the heat a bit, I added a little sour cream to the salsa before adding it to the dish. Worked great. This is a winner!
Thank you for your kind review!
Quick easy dinner, family loves it.
Love hearing this about our recipes! Thank you Gary and thanks for the five star review!
love it
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Delilah and thanks for the five star review.