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Make Taco Mac and Cheese for a one pot dish that is loaded with flavor. Ground beef, cheese sauce and noodles combined to create a family friendly dish.
As a busy mom of 8, I love one pot dishes to make dinnertime a breeze. This taco mac and cheese is one of our favorites. This dish cooks in less than 30 minutes and pairs perfectly with a simple salad.
If you have tried One Pot Tex-Mex Chicken Chili Recipe, One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta Recipe or One Pot Italian Chicken Pasta then you are going to love this Taco Mac and Cheese.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe
Taco Mac and Cheese cooks easily in a large pot or a Dutch Oven. The ingredients are simple and dinner is ready in about 30 minutes.
It has the perfect blend of spices and is a delicious twist on our classic Mac and Cheese Recipe.
Ingredients
- Lean Ground Beef – You can also make this ground turkey and ground chicken
- Onion – If you are out, See Best Onion Substitute
- Cloves Garlic – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves
- Bell Pepper – You can green bell pepper or red bell pepper. Add a diced jalapeño with the vegetables.
- Taco Seasoning – Learn How to Make Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
- Diced tomatoes – We have even used a can of Rotel
- Uncooked Elbow Macaroni – You can use other types of pasta
- Milk – We love the flavor that Whole Milk gives the mac and cheese
- Shredded Cheese – We have used Pepper Jack Cheese for an extra kick of flavor
- Optional Toppings – Sour cream, salsa, sliced jalapeños, guacamole, crushed tortilla chips
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
How to Make Taco Mac and Cheese
Step 1 – In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks.
Step 2 – Add diced onion, garlic, and bell pepper to the pot. Cook for 3-4 minutes until vegetables start to soften.
Step 3 – Stir in the taco seasoning and cook for another minute. Add the diced tomatoes with their juice, beef broth, and uncooked macaroni to the pot. Stir to combine. Cover and simmer for about 12-15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Step 4 – Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the milk and both types of cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Step 5 – Remove from heat and stir in chopped cilantro.
- Step 6 – Let stand for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken.
- Step 7 – Serve hot, with optional toppings if desired and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Ground Beef – Cook ground beef before adding in the veggies. We like to drain excess grease to prevent the mixture being greasy.
- Noodles – There is no need to cook the noodles prior to adding to the ground beef mixture. The noodles will cook in the broth until they are tender.
Serving Suggestions
Taco Mac and Cheese is a delicious one pot meal. We love to serve with a simple green salad or Easy Caesar Salad Recipe. We love to also add a side of Air Fryer Garlic Bread Recipe to make sure we get every last drop of the cheese sauce.
Other side dishes that pair perfectly with this dish is Air Fryer Broccoli, Oven Roasted Asparagus and Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts Recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use other types of noodles. We recommend using a small noodle such as ditalini or a bowtie pasta.
Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat the leftovers in the microwave until heated through. If you have a large amount of leftovers, you can reheat on the stovetop in a saucepan.
Yes, you can freeze the leftovers in a freezer safe container. We like to freeze in individual portions to easily thaw and reheat for a quick lunch.
More Easy Mac and Cheese Recipe
Easy Stove Top
Sausage Mac and Cheese Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker
Crock Pot Chili Mac and Cheese Recipe
Easy Main Dish
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Recipe
We love to hear from you. If you make Taco Mac and Cheese Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Taco Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 1 packet 1 oz taco seasoning 1 oz taco seasoning
- 1 can 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 cups beef broth
- 3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Optional toppings: sour cream sliced jalapeños, crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add diced onion, garlic, and bell pepper to the pot. Cook for 3-4 minutes until vegetables start to soften.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and cook for another minute.
- Add the diced tomatoes with their juice, beef broth, and uncooked macaroni to the pot. Stir to
- combine.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for about 12-15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the milk and both types of cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Remove from heat and stir in chopped cilantro.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken.
- Serve hot, with optional toppings if desired and enjoy!
This was my kids favorite recipe!