Description
This easy Slow Cooker Taco Pasta is a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal combining seasoned ground beef, vegetables, taco spices, and pasta. Prepared mostly in the slow cooker, it’s perfect for a hands-off dinner that yields a comforting, cheesy Mexican-inspired pasta dish.
Ingredients
Meat
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Vegetables & Canned Goods
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup jarred salsa (mild)
- 15 ounce can corn, drained
Seasonings & Liquids
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 ½ cups water or low sodium chicken broth (e.g., one 14.5 ounce can chicken broth plus water to equal 2 ½ cups)
Pasta & Cheese
- 12 ounces shell pasta shapes, uncooked (whole wheat or white)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook, crumbling the meat and stirring often, until well browned. Drain any excess grease, then transfer the cooked beef to the slow cooker.
- Add Vegetables and Seasonings: Into the slow cooker, add the chopped bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, mild salsa, drained corn, taco seasoning, and the water or low sodium chicken broth. Stir all ingredients together to combine.
- Slow Cook the Base: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours, or on high for 2 to 3 hours. The mixture will have extra liquid at this stage; this is normal as the pasta will absorb it later.
- Add and Cook Pasta: Stir the uncooked shell pasta into the slow cooker, pressing it down into the liquid to submerge it. Continue cooking on high for 15 to 30 minutes until the pasta is tender. The exact cook time for the pasta depends on your slow cooker and whether you initially cooked on low or high.
- Stir in Cheese and Serve: Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and combined. Serve warm, optionally topped with sour cream, chopped fresh cilantro, and extra shredded cheddar cheese for garnish.
Notes
- Whole wheat pasta can be used for a healthier twist.
- If you prefer more spice, use medium or hot salsa and adjust taco seasoning accordingly.
- To keep the dish lower in sodium, opt for low sodium chicken broth and no-salt-added canned goods.
- Make sure to drain the cooked ground beef well to avoid excess grease in the slow cooker.
- Cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker model; check pasta doneness to avoid overcooking.
- The extra liquid from slow cooking is absorbed during pasta cooking, so do not drain the mixture before adding pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
