Taco night and mac-and-cheese night called a truce, teamed up, and brought a can of Rotel to the party! The result? A quick, cheesy skillet dinner loaded with saucy taco meat and tender pasta. Taco Mac and Cheese is easy enough for a weeknight and friendly enough that even the picky eaters wave the white flag and dig in!
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What makes this so good
This easy weeknight dinner comes together with simple pantry ingredients and cooks in under 30 minutes, making it a lifesaver on busy nights. You'll only follow a handful of straightforward steps, and the payoff is big with creamy, cheesy pasta loaded with all the bold taco flavors your crew already loves.
This is the kind of mash-up that gets the whole family gathered around the table without a single grumble!
Taco Mac and Cheese with Rotel
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet
- 1 Stock Pot
Ingredients
- 24 ounce box mac and cheese I used one box of Velveeta Mac and Cheese
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 10 ounce can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix
Instructions
- Prepare the macaroni and cheese according to package directions. Leave it in the large pot when you're done.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Cook until it's no longer pink. Drain excess grease.
- Add the taco seasoning along with the tomato sauce and Rotel. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook the taco beef mixture for 3 to 5 minutes until it thickens.
- Add the taco meat to the prepared mac and cheese. Stir to combine. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
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Nutrition
Ingredients
Easy flavor swaps
- Not a fan of beef? No worries, you can swap the beef out for ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Want to add some heat to your pasta? Then, add in some hot sauce, chili powder, or red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
- Need something on the mild side? Use mild Rotel tomatoes instead of the original for less spice.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, refer to the bottom.
FAQ's
I just follow the directions on the package, since you won't be cooking the pasta again, cook the pasta to the texture that your family prefers.
Yes, to prevent your meat from being greasy I always recommend that you drain the ground beef well before adding the taco seasoning.
My favorite mac and cheeses to use are Kraft Blue Box or Velveeta Shells and Cheese. But, you aren't limited to those options so feel free to get creative.
Deb's tips
- My favorite garnishes for this taco pasta are sliced green onions, tomatoes, olives and minced cilantro. But, get creative and garnish with any of your favorite taco toppings.
- When reheating the leftovers if it seems a little dry, add a splash of beef broth or whole milk for some additional liquid.
More taco inspired meals
If this cheesy taco-style pasta wins you over, there are a few more family favorites waiting in the wings. Taco Spaghetti brings the same saucy goodness with a fun twist on the noodles, Cheesy Taco Casserole bakes up into a bubbly, crowd-pleasing dinner, and Stuffed Taco Shells pack all those bold flavors into tender pasta shells.
These are all easy, comforting meals that keep taco night feeling fresh and fun.
Easy sides to add
A simple side of steamed or roasted vegetables balances all that cheesy goodness, and a crisp green salad adds a little freshness to the plate. Warm tortillas or cornbread are great for soaking up the extra sauce, and a scoop of Mexican rice or cilantro-lime rice turns it into an even heartier meal.
If you want something cool on the table, a bowl of salsa and chips or a little dollop of sour cream on top never hurts either.
A weeknight taco pasta win
Taco Mac and Cheese with Rotel is one of those easy dinners that earns a spot in the regular rotation-simple ingredients, quick cooking, and big, comforting flavor in every bite. It's the kind of meal that solves dinner without any fuss and still feels fun when it hits the table.
When you give it a try, be sure to circle back and let me know how it went for you. I always love hearing what your kitchen thinks of it!
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