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?
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 338kcal
Cost: Recipe $7.69 / Serving $0.96
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.
Nutrition
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
