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    Home » Recipes » Casseroles

    One Pot Taco Spaghetti

    Published: May 17, 2023 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    taco spaghetti in stainless steel skillet
    taco spaghetti in stainless steel skillet
    taco spaghetti in stainless steel skillet
    taco spaghetti in stainless steel skillet

    One Pot Taco Spaghetti is an easy 30-minute dinner recipe that combines the delicious flavors of tacos and spaghetti. Easy, tasty dinner for taco night and busy weeknights. 

    taco spaghetti in stainless steel skillet

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    Jump to:
    • Why You're Going to Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients 
    • Mexican Spaghetti Variations
    • How to Make One Pot Taco Spaghetti: Step-by-Step 
    • Storage & Freezing
    • Success Tips
    • FAQs
    • More Easy Dinner Ideas
    • 💌Let's Stay in Touch
    • 📖 Recipe

    One-Pot Taco Spaghetti recipe is a quick and easy meal packed with flavor. 

    Tender pasta in savory taco meat sauce with black beans, corn, and cheese is topped with your favorite taco toppings for an easy one-pot meal the whole family will love. 

    The best part? No need to cook the pasta separately -- uncooked spaghetti simmers right in the sauce! Which means the spaghetti noodles absorb all the rich flavor of the sauce AND less dishes! 

    For more easy Taco Tuesday recipes, try Walking Taco Casserole with Fritos, Chicken Taco Hashbrown Casserole, and Instant Pot Taco Pasta.

    Why You're Going to Love This Recipe

    • Quick one-pot 30-minute dinner with easy clean up
    • Delicious combination of flavors -- like tacos in spaghetti form! 
    • Easy to customize with ground beef or ground chicken
    • Makes great leftovers for lunch the next day

    Ingredients 

    Please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients. 

    taco spaghetti ingredients

    Ground turkey. Lean ground beef or ground chicken will also work well. 

    Taco seasoning. Make my easy homemade taco seasoning or use store-bought packet taco seasoning -- you'll need 2 packets. 

    Low-sodium beef broth. You can also use beef stock, chicken broth, vegetable broth, or water. 

    Salsa. Undrained Rotel tomatoes with green chiles is a great substitute for salsa. 

    Corn. Canned, fresh or frozen and defrosted corn are all great options. 

    Black beans. Black beans help stretch a pound of ground turkey a looooong way. You can also use pinto beans, chili beans, or leave them out.  

    Shredded cheese. Sharp cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese are our favorites. You can also use a Mexican cheese blend, pepper Jack, mozzarella cheese, or your favorite cheese. 

    Cilantro. If you're like me and can't do cilantro, use fresh parsley. 

    Mexican Spaghetti Variations

    Spices. Add a dash of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to crank up the heat. 

    Bell peppers. Give it a fajita flair and add diced bell peppers with the onions. 

    Pasta. Swap with any type of pasta with a similar cooking time as regular spaghetti. Or add more broth or water for pasta with a longer cooking time. 

    How to Make One Pot Taco Spaghetti: Step-by-Step 

    1. Brown the ground turkey. 

    Heat a large skillet, large stockpot, skillet, or Dutch oven over medium to medium-high heat. If the turkey is very lean, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to the cold pan.

    When the pan is hot, brown the turkey and onion in the skillet until the turkey is no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Drain any excess grease. 

    Add a little bit of water or broth to the pan and use a spoon to loosen up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. 

    browned ground turkey in stainless skillet

    2. Cook the spaghetti. 

    Add taco seasoning, salsa, tomato sauce, and 2 cups broth to the meat mixture. Break spaghetti noodles in half and add them to the pan, covering them with the liquid.   

    uncooked spaghetti noodles in skillet of taco meat and sauce

    Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cover pot and simmer, stirring occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom. Add more broth as necessary. Simmer for 15-18 minutes or until the spaghetti is cooked to al dente. 

    3. Add the beans, corn, and cheese. 

    Stir in the beans and corn. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of cheese. 

    black beans and corn over taco spaghetti mixture in stainless steel skillet

    4. Serve and enjoy! 

    To serve, top with ½ cup cheese, chopped tomatoes, fresh cilantro or parsley, and green onions. Serve with sour cream and your favorite taco toppings. 

    taco spaghetti in stainless steel skillet

    Storage & Freezing

    Store leftover taco spaghetti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until warm or on the stovetop in a saucepan with a splash of water or broth to loosen up the sauce. 

    One pot taco pasta is also a great freezer meal! Freeze portions in freezer-safe containers or freezer bags for 2-3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator. 

    Success Tips

    • If you're using really lean ground beef or turkey, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan before heating it up. 
    • No lid for your skillet or stock pot? That's ok! Just cover it with aluminum foil while the pasta cooks. 
    • Add more broth or water as necessary to cook the pasta through and keep the sauce "saucy." 

    FAQs

    Can I use a different type of pasta for one pot taco spaghetti? 

    Yes, you can use any type of pasta you prefer. Penne, rotini, or even elbow macaroni would work well in this recipe. Adjust the cooking time and amount of liquid for pasta that takes longer to cook. 

    Can I use ground chicken or beef instead of turkey? 

    Absolutely! This is a great recipe for ground beef or ground chicken. You could even skip the meat altogether and add extra beans for a vegetarian version.

    Can I make one pot Mexican spaghetti in advance? 

    Yes, this is a great one pot dish to make in advance and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to loosen up the sauce.

    Can I freeze Mexican spaghetti?

    Yes, you can freeze this pasta for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely, then store it in an airtight container or freezer bag. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

    What toppings can I add to one pot taco spaghetti? 

    There are many toppings you can add to Mexican spaghetti, such as shredded cheese, diced avocado, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapenos, sliced black olives, or sour cream. For fun, try serving it in a taco shell!

    taco spaghetti on white plate topped with sour cream, tomatoes, and green onions

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      Dr. Pepper Crock Pot Ribs

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    📖 Recipe

    taco spaghetti in stainless steel skillet

    One Pot Taco Spaghetti

    Cara Lanz
    One Pot Taco Spaghetti is an easy 30-minute dinner recipe that combines the delicious flavors of tacos and spaghetti. Easy, tasty dinner for taco night and busy weeknights. 
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 457 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound ground turkey or ground beef or chicken
    • ½ cup diced onion
    • 2-3 cups beef broth
    • ¼ cup taco seasoning
    • 2 cups salsa
    • 8 ounces tomato sauce
    • 8 ounces spaghetti
    • 1 cup black beans
    • 1 cup corn canned, fresh, or frozen & thawed
    • 1 ½ cups shredded cheese - cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend
    • 1 cup chopped tomatoes
    • ¼ cup green onions
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. If the turkey is very lean, add 1-2 tablespoons olive oil. When the pan is hot, brown the turkey and onion in the skillet until the turkey is no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
    • Add a little bit of broth to the pan and use a spoon to loosen up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
      Add taco seasoning, salsa, tomato sauce, and 2 cups broth. Break the spaghetti in half and add it to the pan, covering it with the liquid.
      Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cover the pan and simmer for 15-18 minutes or until the spaghetti is cooked to al dente.
      Stir occasionally to keep the spaghetti from sticking to the pan and to break up any clumps of pasta. Add more broth as necessary.
    • Stir in the beans and corn. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of cheese.
      To serve, top with ½ cup cheese, tomatoes, green onions, and fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve with sour cream.

    Notes

    If you're using really lean ground beef or turkey, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan before heating it up. 
    No lid for your skillet or stock pot? That's ok! Just cover it with aluminum foil while the pasta cooks. 
    Add more broth or water as necessary to cook the pasta through and keep the sauce "saucy." 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 457kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 36gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 1904mgPotassium: 1078mgFiber: 9gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 2071IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 242mgIron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Comments

    1. Josh Allen says

      November 29, 2024 at 11:17 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve never commented on a recipe before but this one deserves it. My family and I loved this!

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        November 30, 2024 at 1:22 am

        Wow, thank you! It means so much to me that you and your family enjoyed it and that you took the time to share your comment. Cara

        Reply
    2. Diane says

      September 02, 2024 at 12:59 am

      Amazing!! Took this to the field for the harvest crew, and they loved it. Quick and easy to make. Honestly my meat was frozen and I had it made and on way to field in 30 minutes! It’s a keeper.

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        September 02, 2024 at 11:37 am

        Diane, Thank you so much for the nice note. I'm glad your crew loved it! Cara

        Reply
    3. Jennifer V, says

      March 27, 2024 at 12:00 am

      5 stars
      I cannot believe this recipe only has one review! (I do understand why it's a 5-star rating). Absolutely loved this recipe and will be a regular meal in rotation in our household! I opted for the green onions and cilantro since we happened to have both, and it was amazing. Will definitely be sharing this recipe!

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        March 27, 2024 at 10:29 am

        Thank you, Jennifer! Gosh, what a nice note to wake up to, I'm so happy you enjoyed it :). Cara

        Reply
    5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love sharing easy, delicious everyday recipes from the heartland.

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