Description
Taco Spaghetti is a flavorful fusion dish combining classic taco-seasoned ground beef with spaghetti pasta, topped with melted cheddar cheese, sour cream, and fresh green onions. This comforting recipe takes the beloved taco flavors and blends them with Italian pasta for a quick and hearty weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato and Chilies
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 can (4 ounces) green chilies, chopped
Pasta and Toppings
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Heat Skillet: Heat a large skillet over medium heat to prepare for browning the meat.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Drain Grease: Remove excess grease from the skillet once the beef is fully cooked.
- Sauté Onions: Add diced onions to the skillet and cook about 3 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Seasoning: Sprinkle taco seasoning over the meat and onion mixture and stir well.
- Add Tomato Mixture: Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chopped green chilies; stir to combine.
- Simmer Sauce: Let the mixture simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Boil Water: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook Spaghetti: Add spaghetti and cook 8-10 minutes until al dente according to package instructions.
- Drain Pasta: Drain the cooked spaghetti and set aside.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Stir the spaghetti into the meat sauce, coating the pasta thoroughly.
- Add Cheese: Turn off the heat and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
- Melt Cheese: Cover the skillet with a lid for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
- Distribute Cheese: Gently stir the mixture to evenly distribute melted cheese.
- Garnish and Serve: Top with sour cream and sliced green onions before serving.
Notes
- Drain excess fat thoroughly to avoid greasy sauce.
- Use mild or hot green chilies depending on your preferred spice level.
- For a lighter version, reduce cheese amount or use reduced-fat cheese.
- Can be made ahead and reheated; add extra cheese on top when reheating.
- Serve with a side salad or steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.
