Taco Spaghetti Recipe

This Taco Spaghetti is the ultimate weeknight mashup, bringing the savory spice of your favorite Tex-Mex dish right into a creamy, comforting bowl of pasta. It’s a genius fusion that delivers huge flavor with minimal effort, making it the perfect family dinner solution. Think of it as a hearty, cheesy bowl of pure comfort food that’s ready in about 30 minutes! Trust me, this one’s a game-changer for your dinner rotation.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ultimate Fusion Comfort Food: It takes the satisfying texture of spaghetti and drapes it in a rich, spicy, cheesy taco sauce. It’s the best of two worlds!
• Ready in 30 Minutes: This is the ideal recipe for busy nights! While your water boils for the pasta, you’ll be building that incredibly flavorful meat sauce.
• Major Crowd-Pleaser: This recipe is guaranteed to be a hit with picky eaters and adults alike. Who can resist pasta covered in taco flavor and melted cheese?
• Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: Everything you need is easy to find, and the taco seasoning does all the heavy lifting, delivering a bold, authentic taste.

Ingredients

All you need to whip up this delicious Taco Spaghetti is about 30 minutes and a handful of kitchen staples. Gather up these ingredients to get started!

• Spaghetti Noodles: The perfect vehicle for that creamy, savory sauce. We’re cooking these until they’re al dente (just a little firm) so they hold up perfectly in the sauce.
• Ground Beef or Ground Turkey: This forms the hearty base of our “taco” filling. Cook it until it’s beautifully browned and crumbled.
• Olive Oil: Just a touch to get our skillet warmed up and ready to sauté.
• Onion and Garlic: The dynamic duo! These aromatics are essential for building a deep, savory foundation for our taco sauce.
• Taco Seasoning: The secret weapon! This is where all that incredible Tex-Mex spice and flavor comes from. Use your favorite packet or a robust homemade blend.
• Salsa or Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies: Adds texture, a lovely pop of acidity, and a hint of mild heat to brighten up the sauce.
• Tomato Sauce: Helps thicken the sauce and gives it a rich, traditional Italian-American pasta sauce body.
• Water or Beef Broth: Adds moisture and helps the sauce simmer down and concentrate its flavors. Broth will add an extra layer of richness!
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese & Monterey Jack Cheese: We’re using two kinds for maximum melt factor and flavor. They make the sauce unreal—perfectly creamy and salty.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Essential for balancing and boosting all the beautiful flavors we’ve built. Always season to taste!
• Green Onions and Fresh Cilantro: Our final garnishes for a fresh, beautiful pop of color and flavor right before serving.

A quick note: The exact measurements for all these ingredients can be found right below this article in the complete recipe card!

How to Make the Taco Spaghetti Recipe

Getting this fusion masterpiece on the table is surprisingly fast and easy! Follow these steps, and you’ll be digging into creamy, cheesy goodness in no time.

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Cook your spaghetti according to the package directions until it’s perfectly al dente. This means it should still have a slight bite to it. Drain the pasta and set it aside while you build the sauce.

Step 2: Brown the Meat and Sauté Aromatics

In a large skillet (the bigger, the better!), heat up your olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook it until it’s fully browned, making sure to break it up as you go. Once the meat is ready, toss in your chopped onion and minced garlic and sauté for 2–3 minutes until they become fragrant and softened.

Step 3: Build the Taco Sauce

Stir the taco seasoning into the meat mixture, then add the salsa (or diced tomatoes), tomato sauce, and your water or broth. Give it a good stir to combine everything.

Step 4: Simmer and Thicken

Bring the sauce mixture up to a gentle simmer and let it bubble away for 5–7 minutes. This is key! It allows the flavors to truly meld and the sauce to thicken slightly. Your kitchen will smell incredible, promise!

Step 5: Combine Pasta and Sauce

Add the cooked spaghetti directly to the skillet with the sauce. Use tongs to gently toss the pasta until every single strand is fully coated in that luscious taco sauce.

Step 6: Stir in the Cheese

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese right over the top of the pasta and sauce. Stir continuously until both cheeses are completely melted and the sauce has turned wonderfully creamy and rich. Season with a little extra salt and black pepper to your liking.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Dish up your spaghetti while it’s still warm, then top each serving with a sprinkle of sliced green onions and a generous amount of fresh chopped cilantro. Enjoy!

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Stick to the al dente direction. Since the pasta goes back into the sauce to finish cooking, undercooking it slightly prevents it from getting mushy in the final dish.
• Use Beef Broth: While water works fine, using beef broth instead will instantly add a deeper, richer, and more savory flavor to your final sauce. It’s a simple swap for a big flavor payoff!
• Customize the Heat: If you like things spicy, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper with the taco seasoning, or swap the salsa for a variety that has a little more heat.
• Reserve Pasta Water: Before you drain your pasta, scoop out about a cup of the starchy cooking water. If your sauce looks too thick after adding the cheese, a splash or two of this water will loosen it up and make it extra creamy.

How to Serve

This Taco Spaghetti is a satisfying meal all on its own, but here are a few fun ways to serve it up and make it a fiesta!

• Toppings Bar: Set up a topping station! Think dollops of sour cream or Greek yogurt, sliced avocado or guacamole, hot sauce, and crushed tortilla chips for crunch.
• Simple Side Salad: Pair this rich dish with a simple, refreshing green salad dressed in a light lime vinaigrette.
• Breadstick Fusion: Serve it alongside a basket of soft, warm breadsticks or a few pieces of cheesy garlic bread for dipping into the sauce.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers are fantastic! Place any remaining Taco Spaghetti in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

Freezing

You can easily freeze this dish. Place the cooled spaghetti in a freezer-safe container, leaving about an inch of headspace. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating

For the best results, reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through. If the pasta seems a little dry, add a small splash (a tablespoon or two) of water or broth before microwaving to restore moisture and creaminess. Alternatively, you can reheat it gently in a skillet on the stovetop.

FAQs

Can I make this dish vegetarian?

Absolutely! This recipe works beautifully with a meat substitute. You can easily swap the ground beef or turkey for a plant-based ground crumble, or you could use a mixture of hearty beans (like black beans and kidney beans) and mushrooms to create a savory, textural filling. Just skip the initial browning of the meat and start by sautéing your aromatics and plant-based filling. The flavor will still be incredible!

Can I use a different kind of pasta?

Yes, you can! While spaghetti noodles are the classic choice here, this recipe is flexible. Feel free to use any medium-to-long pasta shape that will hold the thick sauce well. Great alternatives include fettuccine, penne, rotini, or even large elbow macaroni. Just ensure you cook your chosen pasta until it’s perfectly al dente before adding it to the sauce.

How can I make this casserole-style?

To turn this into a baked casserole, follow all the steps through combining the pasta and sauce (Step 6), but skip the final cheese stir. Transfer the mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish, top it with an extra layer of cheese, and bake at 350∘F for about 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the sides are heated through. This is perfect for potlucks!

Is it possible to use homemade taco seasoning instead of a packet?

It is highly encouraged! Using a homemade taco seasoning blend allows you to control the exact salt level and spice profile of your dish. A typical homemade blend includes chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and a dash of oregano. If using homemade, start with 2 tablespoons and then adjust it to taste during the simmering step.