This One Pot Taco Mac and Cheese is loaded with ground beef, onions, bell peppers, garlic, taco seasoning, pasta shells, milk, broth, black beans, and THREE kinds of cheese: sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, and monterey jack cheese. Don’t forget about the fun toppings like tortilla chips, sour cream, shredded lettuce, taco sauce, and more! Kid and adult approved!
If you love this one pot recipe, you’ll also love: sheet pan chicken fajitas, one pot mac and cheese, and one pot mexican chicken and rice soup.
Tacos meet mac and cheese. Together, you create the best mash-up. Ever. Aka one pot taco mac and cheese. YUM.
Basically, this recipe has all your favorite taco flavors and textures all mixed together with creamy, cheesy mac and cheese. Like. I’m so obsessed.
This is a PERFECT kid friendly, quick and easy week night dinner, but it’s also perfect for entertaining, because it makes a HUGE batch and it’s such a crowd pleaser . . . kids and adults alike.
Who else is ready for some cheesy deliciousness?!
Ingredients in one pot taco mac and cheese:
- Olive oil
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Red bell peppers
- Green bell peppers
- Garlic
- Taco seasoning
- Medium pasta shells
- Milk
- Vegetable broth
- Water
- Black beans
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Pepper jack cheese
- Monterey jack cheese
- Toppings: tortilla chips, taco sauce, sour cream, shredded lettuce, salsa, jalapenos, etc.
How to make this baked taco mac and cheese recipe:
- Heat a large stockpot over medium heat.
- Add in oil, beef, onion, red pepper, green pepper, garlic, and 2 packets of taco seasoning.
- Cook, breaking up the beef as you go, until the meat is fully cooked through and the veggies are cooked to your liking, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in pasta shells, milk, broth, and water.
- Bring mixture to a simmer, and simmer for 10 minutes, or until pasta is cooked to your liking. Stir OFTEN to prevent sticking.
- To the pasta, add in the remaining packet of taco seasoning, black beans, and HALF the cheddar, pepper jack, and monterey jack (if you’re doing the baking version). Stir until fully combined.
- Optional, but recommended baking steps: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Pour cooked pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with remaining cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
- Serve with optional toppings and enjoy!
Tender pasta, taco ground beef, perfectly cooked veggies, loads of cheese, and super fun toppings like crunchy tortilla chips, sour cream, and taco sauce . . . all made in ONE pot . . .
I mean . . .
. . . what’s not to love?!
– Jennifer
One Pot Taco Mac and Cheese
Equipment for this recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 red pepper diced
- 2 green pepper diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 (1.25 oz) packets taco seasoning divided *see directions below
- 1 (16 oz) box medium pasta shells uncooked
- 3 ½ cups milk
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- ¼ cup water
- 1 (14.5 oz) can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (8 oz) block sharp cheddar cheese shredded and divided
- 1 (4 oz) block pepper jack cheese shredded and divided
- 1 (4 oz) block monterey jack cheese shredded and divided
- Tortilla chips, taco sauce, sour cream, shredded lettuce, salsa, jalapenos, etc. optional for topping
Recipe Video
Instructions
- Heat a large stockpot over medium heat.
- Add in oil, beef, onion, red pepper, green pepper, garlic, and 2 packets of taco seasoning.
- Cook, breaking up the beef as you go, until the meat is fully cooked through and the veggies are cooked to your liking, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in pasta shells, milk, broth, and water.
- Bring mixture to a simmer, and simmer for 10 minutes, or until pasta is cooked to your liking. Stir OFTEN to prevent sticking.
- To the pasta, add in the remaining packet of taco seasoning, black beans, and HALF the cheddar, pepper jack, and monterey jack. Stir until fully combined.
- Optional baking steps: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Pour cooked pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with remaining cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
- Serve with optional toppings and enjoy!
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Notes
Nutrition Information
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Scott
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy