Description

The perfect fusion of taco flavors and spaghetti! This easy 30-minute recipe uses ground beef, taco seasoning, and cheese to create a family-friendly dinner everyone will love. Perfect for busy weeknights!

Ingredients

For the Base:

8 oz spaghetti noodles (regular thickness works best)
1 lb lean ground beef (80/20 blend is perfect)
1 small yellow onion, diced small
1 packet taco seasoning (any brand works)

For the Flavor:

1 can tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel or similar brand)
4 oz shredded cheddar cheese (freshly grated tastes better)
¼ cup chopped cilantro for garnish
½ cup reserved pasta cooking water

Optional Toppings (set these out buffet-style):

Sour cream
Diced fresh tomatoes
Extra shredded cheese
Sliced green onions
Hot sauce
Crushed tortilla chips for crunch
Sliced jalapeños for heat lovers

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Instructions

Step 1: Get That Pasta Going

Boil water in your big pot. Add salt. Put in spaghetti and cook it how the box says. Before you drain it, scoop out about half a cup of the water and put it in a bowl. Then drain the pasta. Don’t rinse it.

Step 2: Brown That Beef

Put your big pan on the stove and heat it up. Add the ground beef and onion. Break up the meat with your spoon. Cook until the meat isn’t pink and the onion is soft. Maybe 5 minutes. If there’s a lot of grease, pour most of it out.

Step 3: Season and Simmer

Dump in the taco seasoning and mix it around. Open the can of Rotel and pour the whole thing in. Add some of that pasta water you saved. Let it bubble for a few minutes.

Step 4: Bring It All Together

Put the cooked spaghetti in the pan with the meat stuff. Mix it all up. Add the cheese a little bit at a time and keep stirring so it melts. If it’s too thick add more pasta water.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Put it in bowls. Put cilantro on top if you want. Let everyone add whatever else they like.

Notes

Cook the meat and onion together. Saves washing another pan and the onion tastes better this way.

Ground turkey works too but it’s more expensive and doesn’t taste as good in my opinion. If you use it, add a little oil so it doesn’t stick.

I throw in frozen corn sometimes because my youngest likes corn in everything. Doesn’t matter what kind, just dump some in at the end.

Make double and freeze half. It’s not as good reheated but it’s better than ordering pizza again.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-Mexican