Taco Pasta Casserole

Taco night meets pasta party in this nourishing taco pasta casserole recipe. In it, you’ll find hearty ingredients like taco-seasoned ground beef and perfectly al dente pasta coated with a heaping mound of taco toppings, including shredded cheddar cheese, chopped onions, salsa and diced tomatoes. Prepping the recipe, which involves cooking the pasta as per the box instructions and making a ground beef mixture before tossing it all together, takes no more than 15 minutes.

Once all the ingredients are combined in a casserole dish, it bakes for about 20 minutes. For some added crunch, the casserole comes out of the oven and is garnished with crushed tortilla chips before returning for 10 more minutes. This recipe is bound to become a weekly staple, ideal for making ahead of time.

Taco Pasta Casserole Ingredients

• Pasta: This recipe calls for bow-tie pasta, otherwise known as farfalle. However, the casserole can also be made with other short pasta shapes, such as penne, rigatoni or fusilli.
• Ground beef: Although ground beef will give this recipe a deeper flavor, other proteins, such as ground turkey or chicken, work just as well just as well.
• Onion: Opt for yellow or white onions that only get milder when cooked to enhance the casserole without overpowering it.
• Cheddar cheese: Sharp shredded cheddar cheese pairs well with the taco seasoning in this dish. However, you can also opt for fresh cheeses like cotija, queso fresco or mozzarella for a milder-tasting casserole that’s extra creamy.
• Salsa: Choose a salsa that isn’t too watery and has a sufficiently thick consistency to coat the pasta and ground beef. Make sure to taste it before adding it to the recipe to see whether you’ll need to adjust the seasonings as you go. Not spicy enough? Perhaps you’ll need to add an extra pinch of cayenne pepper.
• Diced tomatoes: To spare yourself extra prep work, buy pre-diced canned tomatoes. Choose a “no salt added” product to control the dish’s saltiness better.
• Taco seasoning: Although taco seasoning ingredients can vary from recipe to recipe, they typically include a mixture of chili powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, paprika, onion powder and salt. On the other hand, you can also make a DIY homemade taco seasoning mix with just a few pantry staple ingredients.
• Tortilla chips: Avoid over crushing the tortilla chips, as they may become soggy as they bake. Instead, crush them into bite-sized pieces.

Directions

Step 1: Make the filling

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the beef and onion over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, crumbling the beef. Drain any excess oil and liquid. Add the cheese, salsa, tomatoes and taco seasoning. Drain the pasta and stir it into the beef.

Step 2: Bake the casserole

Transfer the filling to a greased 11×7-inch baking dish. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover the casserole and sprinkle it with tortilla chips. Bake until heated through, about 10 minutes longer.

Taco Pasta Casserole Variations

• Add bell peppers: When cooking the onions, add diced bell peppers (of any color) to the ground beef mixture for an earthier flavor and a nutrient boost.
• Make it spicier: If you enjoy spicy food, add diced jalapeños to the ground beef mixture. For even more heat, add the majority of the jalapeño seeds, too.
• Add more toppings: Taco nights wouldn’t be complete without plenty of toppings. In this case, serve the casserole with a side of sour cream, chopped cilantro and your favorite hot sauce to make it even better.

How to Store Taco Pasta Casserole

If making ahead or storing leftovers, cover the entire baking dish with aluminum foil or place individual servings in an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for one to two days.

Can you freeze taco pasta casserole?

If freezing this taco pasta casserole recipe to serve in the future place the leftover casserole in an airtight container and freeze it for up to three months. Remember to let it thaw before reheating.

How do you reheat taco pasta casserole?

The oven is the best way to reheat a taco pasta bake or any casserole because it mimics the original cooking environment. It’s also ideal to reheat an entire casserole instead of individual servings. To reheat this taco bake, preheat the oven to 350°. Cover it with aluminum foil, and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through. Make sure it’s 165° in the center before serving. You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave, toaster oven or air fryer. The times will vary depending on the size of the serving.

Taco Pasta Casserole Tips

What is a casserole?

A casserole is a dish made in a shallow, often rectangular, baking pan. It typically includes several layers of ingredients baked until fully cooked. The dish is usually served in the same pan it was cooked.

Should you cook pasta before pasta bake?

Pasta should be baked beforehand—according to the box instructions—to help expedite the cooking process. However, if you prefer a more al dente texture, make sure you don’t overcook the pasta, as it’ll continue to soften in the oven.

What kind of ground beef is best for tacos?

It’s best to use 90% lean ground beef when making tacos so it’s not too dry or too rich. However, in the case of this taco pasta casserole, you can explore other leanness levels of ground beef, such as an 80/20 blend. The pasta will likely absorb any residual moisture from the higher fat ratio.