Description
Creamy cheesy taco cream cheese pasta delivers Mexican-inspired comfort with bold southwestern flavors. Gooey melted cheese and seasoned ground beef create a quick, satisfying dinner perfect for hungry families craving delicious kitchen magic.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or turkey
Pasta and Base:
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or your choice)
- 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup (120 g) shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese
Seasonings and Additional Components:
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning (or homemade seasoning)
- ½ cup water
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (such as Rotel)
- ¼ cup sour cream (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a substantial pot, bringing it to a vigorous boil. Submerge pasta and cook until perfectly tender, then carefully drain while preserving a portion of starchy liquid.
- Heat a spacious skillet over moderate flame. Introduce ground beef, fragmenting it methodically while cooking until achieving a rich, caramelized exterior and thorough doneness. Eliminate excess rendering.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning across the beef, complementing with water. Allow the mixture to simmer, developing intensity and reducing slightly for enhanced flavor concentration.
- Incorporate undrained tomatoes with green chilies and softened cream cheese into the seasoned meat. Gently manipulate the ingredients, ensuring complete integration and smooth texture.
- Transfer cooked pasta directly into the skillet, thoroughly coating each strand with the robust, spicy sauce. Modulate consistency by introducing reserved pasta water as necessary.
- Cascade shredded cheddar across the mixture, stirring until achieving a luxurious, molten consistency. Fold in sour cream for additional velvety richness.
- Optional verdant garnish of fresh cilantro adds visual appeal and herbal brightness. Serve immediately while maintaining optimal temperature and creamy composition.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner, vegetarian-friendly version that keeps the protein and flavor intact.
- For gluten-sensitive diners, replace regular pasta with chickpea or zucchini noodles to maintain the dish’s creamy, zesty profile without compromising texture.
- Dial down the heat by using mild taco seasoning and selecting no-spice diced tomatoes, making the recipe kid-friendly and adaptable for sensitive palates.
- Prep ahead by cooking beef and sauce mixture in advance, storing separately from pasta, which helps maintain optimal texture and prevents soggy noodles when reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg