🌮 Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta
✅️✅️✅️ A creamy, cheesy, and flavor-packed pasta dish that brings all the best taco flavors into one comforting skillet meal!
Perfect for busy weeknights or when you need something the whole family will love.
🔹️ 👉 Ingredients:
◾️ 3 lbs ground beef
◾️ 1 box small shell pasta (or any short pasta you like)
◾️ 1 full block Velveeta cheese, cubed (for creamy texture)
◾️ 1 handful sharp cheddar cheese (for extra flavor)
◾️ 2 packets taco seasoning
◾️ 1 can original Rotel (diced tomatoes & green chilies)
◾️ ½ cup milk (to help melt the cheese smoothly)
🔹️ 👉 Directions (Step-by-Step):
✅️ 1. Cook the Beef:
▶️ In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until it’s no longer pink.
👉 Drain off any excess grease, then set the cooked beef aside.
👉 This step builds the meaty base of your pasta and adds rich flavor.
✅️ 2. Cook the Pasta:
▶️ In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the shell pasta until just tender (al dente).
👉 Drain well and set aside — don’t rinse, so the sauce sticks better later!
✅️ 3. Make the Cheese Sauce:
▶️ In the same skillet you used for the beef, add the cubed Velveeta and the milk.
👉 Heat over low flame, stirring often until the cheese is fully melted and smooth.
👉 This creates that signature creamy texture that coats every bite.
✅️ 4. Combine Everything:
▶️ Add the cooked pasta and beef back into the skillet with the melted cheese sauce.
👉 Stir well until the pasta and beef are evenly coated.
✅️ 5. Add Flavor & Heat:
▶️ Sprinkle in both taco seasoning packets and pour in the can of Rotel (including the juices).
👉 Stir until everything is fully mixed and heated through — the taco seasoning gives it that zesty Mexican flavor!
✅️ 6. Finish & Serve:
▶️ Stir in the handful of sharp cheddar cheese for that final cheesy touch.
👉 Once melted, serve hot straight from the pan!
👉 Each bite is creamy, cheesy, spicy, and loaded with beefy taco goodness! 🌮💛
🔥 4 Tips for Maximum Flavor & Ease:
↪️ 1. Use fire-roasted Rotel for a deeper, smoky flavor.
↪️ 2. If the cheese sauce gets too thick, add a splash of pasta water to thin it out.
↪️ 3. For a fun crunch, top with crushed tortilla chips or a sprinkle of green onions.
↪️ 4. Make it ahead of time — it reheats beautifully and tastes even better the next day!
