Description
A creamy, spicy, and comforting one-pot meal that combines elbow macaroni with taco-seasoned meat or beans, cooked directly in the sauce for a luscious texture without the need for draining or extra pots.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225 grams) elbow macaroni
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef, turkey, or chicken (or 2 cans black beans for vegetarian)
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
- 14.5-ounce (411 grams) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 15-ounce (425 grams) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1.5 cups (360 ml) chicken or beef broth
- 1.5 cups (170 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) milk
- Optional toppings: fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, sour cream, diced avocado
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground meat, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess grease if necessary, leaving a little for flavor.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over the meat and stir to coat evenly. Cook for one minute until aromatic.
- Add the diced tomatoes (with juice), rinsed black beans, broth, and dry elbow macaroni to the skillet. Stir to combine and ensure pasta is submerged in liquid.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes until pasta is tender but al dente.
- Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the milk and half of the shredded cheese until melted and creamy.
- Top with remaining cheese, cover for 1-2 minutes until melted, and garnish with fresh cilantro or green onions before serving.
Notes
The pasta cooks directly in the sauce, absorbing flavor and releasing starch to thicken the dish. Do not boil pasta separately. Keep heat on medium-low to prevent burning. For extra creaminess, stir in cream cheese or sour cream at the end. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheated with a splash of milk or broth.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 65
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 35
Keywords: one pot meal, taco mac, quick dinner, comfort food, easy recipe, family dinner, cheesy pasta, taco night