Description
Best Taco Spaghetti is a cheesy, saucy, family-friendly easy dinner that brings taco night and pasta night together in one comforting skillet. Made with seasoned ground beef, spaghetti, tomatoes, cream cheese, and melty cheddar, this quick weeknight meal is perfect for dinner ideas, food ideas, easy recipe planning, and cozy family meals when you want bold flavor without extra work.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
12 ounces spaghetti
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles, 10 ounces
1 can tomato sauce, 8 ounces
2 cups beef broth
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
3. Stir in diced onion and cook until softened.
4. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
5. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the beef mixture and stir until evenly coated.
6. Add diced tomatoes with green chiles, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir well.
7. Add spaghetti, breaking it in half if needed, and press it into the liquid.
8. Simmer gently, stirring often, until the spaghetti is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
9. Lower the heat and stir in cream cheese until melted and smooth.
10. Add cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese, then stir until creamy and fully melted.
11. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
12. Top with cherry tomatoes and fresh cilantro or parsley before serving.
Notes
Do not walk away while the spaghetti simmers. Stir often so the pasta cooks evenly, does not clump, and absorbs the sauce without sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 790mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Best Taco Spaghetti, taco spaghetti, easy dinner, weeknight dinner, pasta dinner, ground beef pasta, dinner ideas, food ideas, easy recipe