Taco Spaghetti Skillet Recipe
A meal approved by kids! This Taco Spaghetti Skillet combines cheesy spaghetti, taco-seasoned beef, and bold Tex-Mex flavor into an easy one-pan comfort-food dinner. It’s a quick, family-friendly meal made with simple ingredients that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 40 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 4
- 🍽 Calories: 535 kcals
- 📋Main Ingredients: Ground beef, taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, spaghetti noodles, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Nut-free and can be made gluten-free
- ⭐ Why You’ll Love It: It’s cheesy, hearty, and comes together in one pan for an easy weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup.
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Totally one of our favorite easy weeknight dinners because it uses simple pantry ingredients (check out the foods you should buy in bulk to save money), but still feels hearty and comforting. The cheesy pasta, taco-seasoned beef, and one-pan cooking make it perfect for busy nights when everyone is hungry, and cleanup needs to stay simple because we have baseball practice.
One thing I’ve learned after making taco pasta recipes repeatedly is that adding the cheese near the end helps keep the sauce creamy instead of heavy or greasy. We also love how well this reheats for leftovers, which makes it great for meal prep, lunches, or quick dinners later in the week. This keto pizza soup is like that, too.
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Why The Recipe Works💭
Skillet Dinner: Everything cooks in one skillet, making this taco spaghetti perfect for easy weeknight dinners with less cleanup (like this creamy tomato basil chicken skillet).
Flavorful: Taco seasoning, ground beef, and melted cheese give the pasta bold Tex-Mex flavor while still being family-friendly because it’s not spicy.
Items and Substitutions
- Ground beef: A kid favorite, but know that you can use any ground meat for the recipe.
- Taco seasoning: Mild taco seasoning is what keeps this kid-approved. If you don’t have any on hand, know that cumin, chili powder, garlic, salt, paprika, and pepper are what you need from the spice drawer.
- Cheese: Sharp cheddar melts well and adds the best classic taco flavor, but Monterey Jack or a Tex-Mex blend also work great for extra creaminess.
- Spaghetti noodles. Every kid loves spaghetti! Any other noodle will work, though.
- Gluten-free: To make the taco skillet recipe gluten-free, use quinoa noodles for the spaghetti and double-check that your taco mix is safe.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Tools you’ll need
Before starting the recipe, you’ll want to have all your kitchen essentials ready. I recommend having the following items:
Flavors To Try
Another great thing about this ground beef skillet recipe is its customizable, so feel free to make it your own. Here are a few ideas you can try:
- Make it spicy by adding chopped jalapenos or red pepper flakes. I do this with low carb shrimp fried cauliflower rice, too.
- Add a little sour cream or salsa on top for extra flavor and creaminess.
- Stretch it further by throwing in extra veggies like bell peppers for a fresh touch.
How To Make The Spaghetti Taco Skillet
Step 1: Brown the ground beef over medium heat in a cast-iron and drain the grease.
Step 2: Add the taco seasoning, Roten, tomato sauce, and water. Stir, and bring to a boil over high heat.
Step 3: Add the spaghetti to the mixture, and reduce the heat to low. Cover with foil, and simmer.
Step 4: Sprinkle the cheese all over the skillet, and allow it to cook for just a few minutes.
Step 5: Chop the tomatoes and dice the green onions, then sprinkle them over the casserole.
Step 6: Dig in and serve!
Note
When adding the liquids (canned diced tomatoes, green chilis, and tomato sauce), scrape the skillet’s bottom with a wooden spoon. This will lift any browned bits left from the beef, which adds extra depth to the sauce.
Helpful Hints
Pro tip: Stir Occasionally
Simmer covered with a lid or foil, but stir occasionally. Covering the skillet speeds up the cooking time, while stirring prevents the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Use Taco Seasoning in Stages. Add some while browning the beef and the rest later to build a layered flavor that’s more intense and well-rounded.
- Add Cheese Just Before Serving. Melting cheese at the end keeps it creamy and gooey, instead of overcooking it, which can make it greasy.
- Let the Dish Rest for a Few Minutes Before Serving. Allowing a short rest helps the sauce thicken slightly, making it easier to serve and intensifying the flavors.
- Storing: Store leftover taco spaghetti in an airtight container. This keeps the dish fresh for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- Reheating: Heat small portions in the microwave for about two minutes. Stir halfway through to ensure even heating. On the stovetop, add a splash of water or extra sauce to prevent drying out. Heat on low until warm.
How To Enjoy It
This taco spaghetti skillet is easy to customize and pairs well with everything from simple family dinners to fun Tex-Mex spreads.
- Scoop the taco spaghetti into tortillas or serve it with crispy sides like these loaded smashed potatoes in the air fryer for a fun Tex-Mex-inspired dinner spread.
- Serve it straight from the skillet topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, or jalapeños for an easy comfort-food dinner.
Taco Spaghetti Skillet FAQs
More Easy Dinner Recipes
If you tried this Taco Spragetti Skillet Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Taco Spaghetti Skillet Dinner
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 1/4 ounce taco seasoning
- 10 ounces diced tomatoes with green chilis canned
- 8 ounces tomato sauce canned
- 2 1/2 cups of water
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles broken in half
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 green onion diced
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef over medium heat in a cast iron skillet, until done. (if you’re using lean meat, no need to drain fat – but if not, you will want to drain the fat)
- Add the taco seasoning, Roten, tomato sauce, and water. Stir, and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Add the spaghetti to the mixture,give it a quick stir, then reduce the heat to low.
- Cover with foil, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring about halfway through.
- Sprinkle the cheese all over the skillet, and allow to cook for just a few minutes to melt the cheese.
- Chop the tomatoes and dice the green onions, then sprinkle over the casserole, and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Equipment
- Measuring cups
- Cast iron skillet
- Meat chopper
- Silicone spoon
- Aluminum foil
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
I haven’t tried this meal, although I will. I’m replying because it is stated to use a cast iron skillet. I have heard that you shouldn’t cook tomato products in a cast iron skillet. I don’t want to ruin my cast iron skillet just to try this recipe.
Hi, I’m so happy you’re going to try this meal! You can cook tomatoes in a cast iron skillet, but you need to make sure the tomato product does not sit in the pan for a long time and make sure that you wash it well after. If you leave it in too long, you can weaken the seasoning layer. Here’s a great video that gives a better explanation from Mr. Cast Iron: https://youtu.be/f_8OO4MJ-YI?si=rYUPSkqg2gN2hKT7 – however, you can also make this recipe in a regular pan 🙂
Totally a weeknight go-to, my kids think this is the best invention ever.