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?
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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 Taco Mac and Cheese with Rotel 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.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- 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.
- 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!)
- It's frugal. Coming in at less than $10, this Taco Mac and Cheese 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
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.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Ground beef. You can swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken, depending on which you'd prefer.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Make Your Recipe Serve More- "Bulk" up your Taco Mac and Cheese 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
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.
Step 2: Add the ground beef to the empty pot.
Step 3: Cook until well browned, breaking up any large pieces as you go. Drain the grease.
Step 4: Add in a can of Rotel and the taco seasoning.
Step 5: Mix well to combine.
Step 6: Add in the powdered cheese from the boxed macaroni.
Step 7: Stir well to combine. Add in a little milk if needed.
Step 8: Stir in the cooked pasta that you had set aside.
Serve warm and top with sour cream (if desired).
Enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Ignore the box. Grab the pasta and cheese packets from your boxed macaroni, but forget about following the package instructions.
- 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.
- 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.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen pasta overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating: Reheat a single serving in the microwave for 1-2 minutes on a microwave-safe plate. For multiple portions, warm gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a splash of liquid, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Make Ahead: This recipe is perfect for prepping in advance. Assemble it earlier in the day (or up to 2 days ahead), cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake or reheat for dinner.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
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.
- Tomato Jalapeno SalsaRecipe $3.67 / Serving $0.61
- Fajita Taco SaladRecipe $16.91 / Serving $2.82
- Air Fryer Tortilla ChipsRecipe $0.90 / Serving $0.23
- Quick Horchata Recipe (With Leftover Rice)Recipe $0.28 / Serving $0.04
❓ Recipe FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
- Southern Baked SpaghettiRecipe $6.70 / Serving $0.55
- Ramen with Egg and CheeseRecipe $1.76 / Serving $0.44
- Instant Pot Chicken SpaghettiRecipe $10.38 / Serving $1.74
- One Pot Cheeseburger PastaRecipe $10.25 / Serving $1.28
🐝 If you tried this Taco Mac and Cheese with Rotel, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Taco Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 boxes (7.25 ounces each) macaroni and cheese, prepared without milk or butter - ($1.16)
- 1 pound ground beef - ($4.22)
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained - ($1.36)
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix - ($0.88)
- ⅓ cup milk, optional - (0.07)
Instructions
- Cook pasta. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside. Return the empty pot to the stove.
- Brown beef. Add ground beef to the pot and cook over medium heat until fully browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess grease.
- Season. Stir in diced tomatoes with green chilies and taco seasoning until well combined.
- Add cheese. Add the powdered cheese packets from the boxed macaroni and stir until smooth. Add milk if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Combine. Stir in the cooked pasta until evenly coated.
- Serve. Serve warm, with sour cream or toppings if desired.
Notes
- Boxed Mac Tip. Use only the pasta and cheese packets. Do not follow the box directions.
- Heat Level. Using the tomato liquid helps the seasoning dissolve. For milder flavor, drain tomatoes and add milk instead.
- Make Ahead. Prepare in advance and refrigerate until ready to reheat.
- Storage. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months.
- Stretch It. Add canned black beans or corn to increase servings on a budget.
Nutritional Information
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