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    BeeyondCereal » Recipes » Pasta Recipes

    Taco Mac and Cheese (with Rotel)

    Modified: Oct 17, 2023 Published: Jun 21, 2023 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.75 from 4 votes

    Make Taco Tuesday unforgettable with this inspirational twist. Taco Mac and Cheese made with Rotel. It's spicy, cheesy, comforting, and oh so delicious. Did I mention you only need 5 ingredients?

    Recipe: $7.96 | Per Serving: $0.96 | Servings: 8

    a bowl filled with taco mac and cheese.

    Boxed mac and cheese is nostalgic and delicious already, but add in some taco meat, diced tomatoes and chiles, and you have a new cheap family meal under $10 that everyone can enjoy.

    We especially love our pasta topped with sour cream. Add a little sliced lettuce or shredded cheese, and you're in for a real treat. This recipe is similar to my Homemade Hamburger Helper, but with a taco flavor profile and some convenience from the boxed mac and cheese.

    If you love tacos (or mac and cheese), check out my DIY Taco Seasoning, Walking Taco Casserole, and Mac and Cheese Tuna Casserole.

    Jump to:
    • 🍯 Why This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🧾 Substitutions
    • 🥣 Recipe Add-Ins
    • 🔪 Instructions for Taco Mac and Cheese
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 🍳 Reheating
    • 🥗 Side Dishes
    • ⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Storage
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Pasta Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. It's easy to make. This one pot recipe is perfect for anyone to make. Boil pasta, drain, cook ground beef, drain, and mix everything together. We've added it to our list of Lazy Sunday Dinner Ideas.
    2. It's a unique twist. It's like a taco pasta casserole, and it's one that we're adding to our menu more often. It's so much fun and so versatile too. Even the leftovers are incredible! Side note: I recommend trying the leftovers as a Mac and Cheese Quesadilla (it's SO good!)
    3. It's frugal. Coming in at less tha $10, this recipe is affordable for any meal plan on a tight budget. Less than $1 per serving and plenty of leftovers for the following day.

    🥘 Ingredients

    labeled ingredients needed to make taco mac and cheese.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Taco seasoning- You will need a packet of taco seasoning mix, or you can make your own taco seasoning instead.

    Rotel- Use a can of Rotel tomatoes and chiles (or similar). Do not drain the can before use, as we want the liquid inside and all the flavor and spice that comes with it.

    Boxed mac and cheese- Use your favorite box of mac and cheese for this recipe. I like Walmart or Aldi store brands, but Kraft and other brands work fine too.

    Milk- Adding in a little bit of milk helps to moisten the pasta mixture and gives it a slightly creamier consistency. This is a completely optional ingredient and can be omitted if desired.

    For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    🧾 Substitutions

    Ground beef. You can swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken, depending on which you'd prefer.

    🥣 Recipe Add-Ins

    Make Your Recipe Serve More- "Bulk" up your recipe by adding in some canned (drained and rinsed) black beans or whole kernel corn. This is a cheap option to Save Money by Stretching Meat, and it can easily give you another 2-3 servings per recipe.

    🔪 Instructions for Taco Mac and Cheese

    pot of boiling water and pasta noodles.

    Step 1: Bring a pot of water to a boil and add in the dry pasta. Cook for several minutes until al dente and then drain. Return the empty pot to the stove.

    ground beef in a pot.

    Step 2: Add the ground beef to the empty pot.

    cooked and drained ground beef in a pot.

    Step 3: Cook until well browned, breaking up any large pieces as you go. Drain the grease.

    ground beef in a pot with rotel tomatoes and taco seasoning.

    Step 4: Add in a can of Rotel and the taco seasoning.

    seasoned tomatoes and ground beef mixture in a pot.

    Step 5: Mix well to combine.

    cheese powder added to pot of cooked ground beef and tomato mixture.

    Step 6: Add in the powdered cheese from the boxed macaroni.

    cooked tomato ground beef mixture in a pot.

    Step 7: Stir well to combine. Add in a little milk if needed.

    taco mac and cheese in a pot.

    Step 8: Stir in the cooked pasta that you had set aside.

    Serve warm and top with sour cream (if desired).

    Enjoy!

    taco mac and cheese in a serving bowl.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    1. Ignore the box. Grab the pasta and cheese packets from your boxed macaroni, but forget about following the package instructions.
    2. Less spicy. Keeping the liquid from the Rotel tomatoes in the mix helps the taco seasoning blend in and stick to everything else. But if you're not into spicy stuff, just swap it for ⅓ cup of milk to tone it down.
    3. More spicy. Want to play with the heat? Go for mild or hot Rotel mixtures to dial it up or down according to your taste.

    🍳 Reheating

    Microwave Reheating: Reheat a single serving at a time on a microwave safe plate for 1-2 minutes in the microwave.

    Stovetop Reheating: More servings can be reheated in a covered pot on the stove with a little added liquid over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally to prevent burning and cook until warmed through.

    🥗 Side Dishes

    Serve up this taco pasta recipe with a side of salad or green veggies to keep the meal light and refreshing. Adding some Guacamole Without Cilantro or Tomato Jalapeno Salsa as toppings is also a great idea.

    ⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions

    This recipe works great as a "prep now, eat later" type of meal. I like to prep it in the afternoons, around lunchtime, and keep it in the fridge until dinner, but it can just as easily be prepped a day or two in advance.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Storage

    Refrigeration: Store any uneaten mac and cheese in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

    Freezing: Alternatively, freeze mac and cheese for up to 3 months.

    Thawing and Reheating: Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat before serving.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    What is a one pot meal?

    A "one pot meal" is the term given to recipes that are cooked in one pot or pan. A sheet pan meal is also an example of this. The goal is to limit the amount of dishes used in cooking by simplifying the recipe to only use "one pot" and a few prep tools.

    Can I make taco pasta with chicken?

    Yes, you can. Follow the recipe but use cooked shredded chicken instead, or small diced chicken. Cook the chicken until 165 degrees F. If the chicken is precooked, just add the Rotel, seasoning, and chicken to the pot at the same time. This is a great way to use up leftover Crockpot Chicken with Enchilada Sauce.

    Can I use any pasta shapes?

    Absolutely! I especially love the thick and creamy macaroni pasta shells from Walmart, but you can use any noodle shape mac and cheese desired. Note that character shaped pasta may not hold up well.

    Should I boil mac and cheese on high?

    Here's how to cook pasta: First, bring water to a rolling boil over high heat. Drop in the macaroni once it's boiling. Remember to stir occasionally to keep it from sticking. Then, lower the heat to a gentle simmer.

    taco mac and cheese in a bowl.

    ❤️ More Delicious Pasta Recipes

    • a serving of southern spaghetti bake on a plate with garlic bead and salad.
      Southern Baked Spaghetti
    • a bowl filled with cheesy ramen and a soft poached egg on top garnished with sliced green onions.
      Ramen with Egg and Cheese
    • a pile of cooked instant pot chicken spaghetti on a dinner plate.
      Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
    • a mountain of cheeseurger helper on a plate next to fresh parsley.
      Homemade Hamburger Helper

    If you tried this Taco Mac and Cheese with Rotel, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    tomato mac and cheese in a bowl.
    Print Recipe
    4.75 from 4 votes

    Taco Mac and Cheese

    Make Taco Tuesday unforgettable with this inspirational twist. Taco Pasta is spicy, cheesy, comforting, and oh so delicious. Did I mention you only need 5 ingredients?
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 338kcal
    Cost Recipe $7.69 / Serving $0.96
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Large Pot
    • Colander
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Can opener
    • Liquid Measuring Cup

    Ingredients

    • 2 boxes macaroni and cheese, like Kraft ($1.16)
    • 1 pound ground beef ($4.22)
    • 1 can (10oz) Rotel, undrained ($1.36)
    • 1 packet taco seasoning mix ($0.88)
    • ⅓ cup milk *optional (0.07)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Bring a pot of water to a boil and add in the dry pasta. Cook for several minutes until al dente and then drain. Return the empty pot to the stove.
    • Add the ground beef to the empty pot.
    • Cook until well browned, breaking up any large pieces as you go. Drain the grease.
    • Add in a can of Rotel and the taco seasoning.
    • Mix well to combine.
    • Add in the powdered cheese from the boxed macaroni.
    • Stir well to combine. Add in a little milk if needed.
    • Stir in the cooked pasta that you had set aside.
    • Serve warm and top with sour cream (if desired). Enjoy!

    Notes

    Use pasta and cheese packets from boxed macaroni without following package instructions.
    Keeping Rotel liquid helps taco seasoning dissolve and adhere. Omit for less heat, using ⅓ cup milk instead.
    Adjust spiciness with Rotel variety.
    Reheat in microwave or on stove with added liquid.
    Prep in advance and store in the fridge.
    Store leftovers in airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
    Add canned black beans or corn to increase servings cost-effectively.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 793mg | Potassium: 366mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 487IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 3mg
    Author Nicole Durham
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    The proud owner and recipe developer behind BeeyondCereal. Here, I'm passionate about showing people how to navigate the kitchen with frugality in mind, whipping up family-friendly recipes that not only save money but also bring joy to every meal.

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