Creamy Taco Pasta Recipe – Easy and Cheesy

This creamy taco pasta recipe is a quick and hearty meal! Ready in 30 minutes, top this easy pasta dinner with your favorite taco garnishes.

In case you haven’t noticed, I have a minor addiction to tacos. I have been working hard to diversify my diet, but I often find it is a taco I crave.

I’m obsessed with the delicious flavors of tacos. 

Layered taco dip, chicken taco soup, steak and egg breakfast tacos are just a few recipes I have shared in the past. 

I blame my mom’s taco pregnancy cravings on this one. Also, Taco Tuesday.

I have been craving taco flavors lately, and I have been getting bored. Isn’t that a shame – getting bored on taco night by the flavors you’re craving?

I created this easy cheesy taco pasta to change it up a little.

Easy Taco Pasta Recipe

This taco pasta is a modification of my ever-so-popular cheesy tomato pasta skillet. It is like Hamburger Helper, but WAY better with simple ingredients, and it’s perfect for busy weeknights.

Taco seasoning is added to the creamy tomato flavors of this pasta dish, and then each serving of this easy recipe is topped with taco toppings.

Think crunchy iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.

This easy dinner would be a great way to add some vegetable portions to your daily diet and add a little fun to the dinner table for the entire family. 

I add the veggies to the big pot, but instead, you could set up a mini taco pasta station. If you are a picky eater, this is a great recipe to add to your rotation.

Put small bowls of your favorite taco toppings out, and then let the whole family add their favorites to their bowls. That’s one of the best parts about tacos, right?

Creamy Taco Pasta Ingredients

Ground Turkey: Ground turkey is used as the protein base for this dish. It’s a lean alternative to ground beef and adds a savory flavor. Ground chicken would be a great substitute.

Diced White Onion: Diced white onion contributes a sweet and aromatic element to the dish. It enhances the overall flavor profile.

Uncooked Pasta: Use your favorite type of pasta. I like to use rigatoni, ziti, penne, or pasta shells.

Tomato Sauce: Tomato sauce forms the base, giving the dish a rich tomato flavor and a vibrant red color. For a thicker sauce, add tomato paste.

Taco Seasoning: Taco seasoning is the essential seasoning that imparts a spicy and savory taco flavor. It includes a blend of chili powder, cumin, and paprika. (Try my homemade taco seasoning!)

Cream Cheese: Cream cheese adds creaminess and richness to the sauce, creating a velvety texture. It also helps balance the spiciness of the taco seasoning.

Taco Toppings (Optional): These optional toppings add flavor and texture to your creamy taco pasta. 

Consider using shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced green onions, green chilies, shredded cheddar cheese, mild salsa, and sour cream as garnishes to customize each serving.

How to Make Creamy Taco Pasta

Cook the Pasta

In a large pot, follow the pasta package’s instructions to cook the pasta until it reaches an al dente texture. Drain the pasta and set it aside for later use.

Brown the Ground Turkey and Onion

Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat while the pasta cooks. Begin browning the ground turkey in the pan. After approximately 4 minutes, add the diced onion. 

Continue to stir and sauté the mixture until the ground turkey is fully cooked with no pinkness remaining and the onions become translucent.

Prepare the Sauce

Add the tomato sauce and taco seasoning to the cooked turkey and onion. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients. 

Bring the sauce mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes. At this point, the cooking pasta should be almost ready.

Incorporate the Cream Cheese

Add the cream cheese to the sauce, stirring until it melts. The end result is a creamy, cheesy taco sauce.

Combine Pasta with Sauce

Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, tossing it to ensure it’s evenly coated. Remove the skillet from heat.

Garnish and Serve

When serving, consider topping each portion of creamy taco pasta with optional taco toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped green onions, shredded cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. 

These toppings add freshness and additional layers of flavor to your dish.

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Looking for more quick pasta recipes? Try these:

• One Pot Spicy Sausage Skillet
• Country-Style Rigatoni
• Rosa Chicken Caprese Pasta

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