This is one of our family’s go-to recipes, especially on busy weeknights Taco pasta is a meal I always keep ingredients for in the pantry because it is so quick and easy to throw together. This quick meal takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and the ingredients are staples in many households. My FAVORITE part about this meal is how everything is prepared in one skillet so there aren’t approximately 10,000 dishes to wash after we enjoy our meal. 

You will need: 

• 1 pound ground beef
• 3 cups rotini noodles, uncooked
• 4 cups water
• 1 package taco seasoning
• 1 onion, diced (optional)
• 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 
• Salt and pepper for seasoning the beef

First, you will need to find a large skillet pan. Brown the ground beef seasoned with salt and pepper over medium heat. You can dice an onion and saute it with the beef if you are an onion person.  When the beef has finished cooking, add the taco seasoning with 4 cups of water. Stir until combined. After that you will add 3 cups of rotini noodles, one can of petite diced tomatoes, and one cup of salsa. Stir well and then cover

Simmer the pasta over medium heat for 20 minutes. Take time to stir the pasta every five minutes or so. When the pasta is tender and most of the water is absorbed, turn off the heat and stir in the cheese. You can use any kind of cheese you have on hand, we prefer cheddar or colby jack with this meal. Pepper jack cheese would be another great option. 

Serve topped with your favorite Mexican toppings. Some favorites include cilantro, sour cream, tortilla chips, or additional salsa. Really whatever you have on hand! This recipe is truly very flexible. We have also added additional ingredients to the meal such as corn, green peppers, diced green chiles, or black beans. Give yourself permission to experiment and get creative with flavors!