• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Butter & Baggage logo
  • Home
  • Recipe Search
    • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Breads & Biscuits
    • Breakfast
      • Muffins
    • Desserts
      • Bars
      • Brownies
      • Cakes & Cupcakes
      • Cookies
      • Fruit Desserts
      • Pies, Cobblers & Crisps
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Seafood
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Sauces & Dips
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Chilis
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Search
  • Recipe Index
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Pasta » One Pot Taco Spaghetti

    One Pot Taco Spaghetti

    Published: Mar 5, 2016 · Modified: Feb 27, 2021 by Barbara Curry · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump To Recipe Jump To Video Print Recipe
    Taco Spaghetti in a pot.

    Taco spaghetti is a super easy and quick weeknight dinner you can make in just ONE POT in less than 30 minutes!  A meal the whole family will love.

    A fork full of taco spaghetti

    When you’re having one of those nights where you can’t come up with anything quick and easy for dinner, try out this one pot taco spaghetti recipe.  If you keep your pantry stocked, the only thing you’ll need to pick up is the meat and cheese.  The best part is you only need one pot, the uncooked pasta cooks with the sauce.  This is great for a busy night or for folks with limited cooking facilities. You can have dinner in 30 minutes.

    While I love complicated recipes with lots of steps, I don’t want to tackle one on a weeknight.  Weeknights are for easy dinners that don’t require any thought, and this pasta dish fits the bill. A delicious under 30 minute meal. Another dish that’s just as easy in the Tex-Mex family is Queso Chicken.

    A scoop full of noodles being pulled out of a pot

    What you’ll need

    • Ground turkey, chicken or beef – all three make a great taco spaghetti casserole.
    • Taco Seasoning – one packet of your favorite or make your own.
    • Chipotle chili pepper – this is optional but it will give it a little kick.
    • Ro-Tel Tomatoes and chilies – I love this brand for the convenience of both ingredients in one can. You will need all the liquid in the can.
    • Tomato paste – keep a tube in the refrigerator, it has a pretty long shelf life.
    • Pasta– any type of spaghetti will work, I like the thicker bucatini pasta.
    • Cheese – try a mixture of cheddar and pepper jack or you don’t want it spicy use Monterey Jack instead.

    How do you make Taco Spaghetti in just one pot

    Step 1: Start by browning the hamburger/ground turkey.

    Step 2: Dump everything but the cheese in the pot, including the uncooked pasta.

    A pot of pasta on top of sauce in a pot

    Bring it to a boil, cover and let it cool for 15 minutes.  Take off the lid, sprinkle with cheese and you’re done.  

    taco spaghetti casserole with a serving spoon

    I use spicy taco seasoning and it adds just enough heat to get your attention. However, I’ve also used regular taco seasoning and added chipotle powder, just a little better. Then I stumbled upon this recipe for making your own and it’s the best. The combination from Foodology Geek is the one I use now with just the perfect proportion of seasonings.

    FAQs and tips

    What type of pot works best for one taco spaghetti?

    A dutch oven works great for this, if not, any large pot will work.(affiliate)

    Do you drain the liquid from the tomatoes?

    Use all the liquid from the canned tomatoes, the pasta needs the liquid.

    Can you use beef instead of ground chicken or turkey?

    Beef is great in this dish, however, you may need to drain the grease before adding the other ingredients.

    What kind of cheese should you for a spaghetti casserole?

    A mixture of cheeses adds more flavor, so use a cheddar and a pepper jack.

    Can you freeze taco spaghetti?

    Yes, to reheat, let it come to room temperature and microwave or cover and reheat in the oven at 350º for about 10 minutes.

    What else can you make with taco seasoning 

    • Tex-Mex grilled chicken
    • Southwest chicken and rice
    • Tater tot casserole
    • Stuffed peppers

    If you’re looking for some additional quick and easy dinner ideas, take a look at these:

    • Ranch Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes for a sheet pan dinner.
    • For an easy pasta dish, try Lemon Chicken Penne.
    • You can’t go wrong with crispy Parmeson Crusted Chicken Fingers.
    • Or Sriracha Mango Quesadilla with rotisserie chicken.
    • Crispy nut crusted chicken is a favorite.

    If you want more simple and delicious meals check out these pantry dinners.

    Watch a webstory!

    A fork full of taco spaghetti

    Taco Spaghetti

    Author: Barbara Curry
    Taco spaghetti is a super easy and quick weeknight dinner you can make in just ONE POT in less than 30 minutes! A meal the whole family will love.
    4.41 from 5 votes
    Print Pin
    PREP: 10 minutes
    COOK: 20 minutes
    Servings: 6

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 lb ground chicken/turkey
    • 1 1.25 ounce package taco seasoning 4 tablespoons
    • ½ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
    • 10 ounces Diced tomatoes and green chilies Ro Tel
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 8 ounces spaghetti
    • 2 ounces cheddar cheese grated
    • 2 ounces pepper jack cheese grated
    • fresh cilantro
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Cook ground turkey/hamburger in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium high heat until browned, 3-5 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning and ground chipotle.
    • Add tomatoes, tomato paste, uncooked spaghetti and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat. Simmer until pasta has cooked, about 15 minutes.
    • Remove from heat and sprinkle with cheese and cilantro.

    Video

    Barbara’s Tips + Notes
    • Do not drain the liquid from the canned tomatoes, you will need it for the pasta to cook in. 
    • You can use ground beef instead of chicken, if so, you may need to drain the grease before adding the rest of the ingredients.
    • This is even better with homemade taco seasoning, for a recipe check out Foodology Geek, her’s is my favorite. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 941mg | Potassium: 343mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1248IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg
    Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage on Instagram!

    If you make Taco Spaghetti, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! I would love to see your creation.

    « Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breasts
    Lasagna with Béchamel »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. jody says

      August 08, 2018 at 3:59 pm

      This recipe was so delicious, my kids loved it too! its so easy and quick because you only need one pot. definitely making this again.

      Reply
      • Barbara Curry says

        August 08, 2018 at 8:16 pm

        Jody,
        So glad you liked it, I love having a few easy recipes for quick weeknight dinners.

        Reply
    2. Deb says

      December 26, 2018 at 9:24 am

      Absolutely delicious, easy to make and best of all cooks in ONE PAN!!!@

      Reply
      • Barbara Curry says

        December 27, 2018 at 11:26 am

        Anything to minimize cleanup! Glad you liked it.

        Reply
    3. Amy McLaurin says

      January 18, 2019 at 6:32 pm

      Taco spaghetti was a huge hit for our family of 7! It blended two of their favorites and was easy to make and clean up!! The smell of tacos filled the home and they couldn’t believe we were having spaghetti! Definitely adding this entree to our regular rotation!!

      Reply
      • Barbara Curry says

        January 18, 2019 at 6:39 pm

        Amy,I’m so glad this was a hit, it’s so hard to find something that everyone likes!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

    More about me →

    Subscribe

    Strawberry Recipes

    • Strawberry Jam Cake
    • Strawberry Jam without Pectin
    • Strawberry Pound Cake
    • Sheet Pan Pancakes
    • Strawberry Cobbler
    • Strawberry Biscuits

    Popular

    • Breakfast Puff Pastry (VIDEO)
    • Steak Marsala
    • Queso Chicken
    • Sausage Balls Recipe
    • Chocolate Bark Recipe
    • Mini Croque Monsieur

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    breakfast bread chicken pasta dessert bars

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 BUTTER & BAGGAGE | PRIVACY POLICY
    BRANDING & CUSTOMIZATION BY GRACE + VINE STUDIOS

    3708 shares
    3708 shares