Creamy Taco Pasta
Creamy Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound pasta shells
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1 jalapeño, diced, seeds removed
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet sazon
- 2 teaspoons complete seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon adobo
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 can fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups pasta water, reserved from cooking pasta
- 1 chicken bouillon, as needed, to mix with pasta water
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 2 1/2 cups Colby cheese, shredded, plus more for topping
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, as needed, for sautéing
Instructions
- 1
Cook the pasta shells according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta water. Mix the reserved pasta water with chicken bouillon.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
In a large pan or Dutch oven, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
Add the ground beef to the pan. Season with sazon, complete seasoning, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, adobo, and black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Stir in the can of fire roasted tomatoes and let cook for 2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Pour in the reserved pasta water mixed with chicken bouillon. Bring to a simmer and let reduce slightly for about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Stir in the heavy cream.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Add 2 1/2 cups of shredded Colby cheese and stir continuously until the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy and thickened.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Add the cooked pasta shells to the pan and toss until fully coated with the creamy taco sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Top the pasta with additional shredded Colby cheese. Cover the pan and let it cook for 5 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
Serve hot and enjoy your creamy taco pasta!
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Taco Pasta
- 1/2 pound pasta shells
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1 jalapeño, diced, seeds removed
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet sazon
- 2 teaspoons complete seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon adobo
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 can fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups pasta water, reserved from cooking pasta
- 1 chicken bouillon, as needed, to mix with pasta water
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 2 1/2 cups Colby cheese, shredded, plus more for topping
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, as needed, for sautéing
Instructions
- 1
Cook the pasta shells according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta water. Mix the reserved pasta water with chicken bouillon.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
In a large pan or Dutch oven, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Add the ground beef to the pan. Season with sazon, complete seasoning, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, adobo, and black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Stir in the can of fire roasted tomatoes and let cook for 2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Pour in the reserved pasta water mixed with chicken bouillon. Bring to a simmer and let reduce slightly for about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Stir in the heavy cream.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Add 2 1/2 cups of shredded Colby cheese and stir continuously until the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy and thickened.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Add the cooked pasta shells to the pan and toss until fully coated with the creamy taco sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Top the pasta with additional shredded Colby cheese. Cover the pan and let it cook for 5 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
Serve hot and enjoy your creamy taco pasta!
⏱️ 1 min