Description
This Baked Taco Pasta is the ultimate mashup of taco night and pasta night! Perfect for an easy dinner, quick meal prep, or a comforting dish to feed a crowd, it’s made with tender pasta, seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, salsa, and a gooey cheesy topping. It’s one of those weeknight-friendly, easy recipes that comes together in about 35 minutes total. Ideal if you’re on the lookout for family-friendly dinner ideas, hearty food ideas, or just something warm and cheesy with a Mexican twist.
Ingredients
12 oz penne or rotini pasta
1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1 cup black beans
1 cup corn kernels
1 1/4 cups salsa
2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
1/3 cup chopped green onions
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until combined.
4. Stir in black beans, corn, and salsa. Cook for another 2 minutes until heated through.
5. In a large bowl or baking dish, mix the cooked pasta with the beef mixture.
6. Transfer to a greased 9×13″ baking dish. Top with shredded cheese.
7. Bake at 375°F for 15–20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. Remove from oven, let sit for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped green onions before serving.
Notes
Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-packaged shredded cheese.
You can prep and refrigerate the dish up to 24 hours in advance before baking.
Use gluten-free pasta and plant-based protein for a dietary-friendly version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of dish
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 790mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: easy dinner, baked taco pasta, taco casserole, pasta bake, cheesy pasta