Description
One Pot Cheesy Taco Mac blends creamy mac and cheese comfort with bold taco flavors in a single skillet. With seasoned ground beef, pasta, melted cheese, and minimal cleanup, it’s the perfect go-to for busy nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium brown onion, diced
- 1 tbsp minced fresh garlic
- 500g (1 lb 2 oz) ground beef
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 400g can crushed tomatoes
- 400g can corn kernels, drained
- 4 cups beef stock
- 400g pasta (macaroni or small shells)
- 100g cream cheese
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1½ cups Mexican cheese blend
- ¼ bunch fresh coriander, chopped
- 1 spring onion, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven grill to high. Heat olive oil in large oven-safe pan over medium heat.
- Add diced onion and minced garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Add ground beef, breaking up with spoon until browned. This takes about 5-6 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and all spices. Cook 1-2 minutes to bloom flavors.
- Add crushed tomatoes, corn, and beef stock. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Add pasta and bring to simmer. Cover and cook 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream cheese and cheddar until fully melted.
- Turn off heat. Top with Mexican cheese blend. Grill 2-3 minutes until golden.
- Top with fresh coriander and spring onion. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use regular ground beef instead of lean – the fat adds flavor and prevents dryness
- Don’t skip browning the meat properly – this creates the flavor foundation
- Stir pasta occasionally while cooking to prevent sticking
- Add cream cheese while pan is warm but off heat to prevent curdling
- If no oven-safe pan, cover with lid instead of grilling for melted cheese
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: taco mac and cheese, one pot taco pasta, cheesy taco skillet, creamy taco beef pasta, easy taco dinner, weeknight one pot meal, taco mac recipe