Ground Beef Tex-Mex Pasta
This Ground Beef Tex-Mex Pasta turns taco night into an easy one-pot pasta dinner. Ground beef, colorful peppers and tender pasta cook together in a seasoned tomato sauce before sour cream and Mexican-blend cheese make everything rich and creamy. It’s ready in about 30 minutes, feeds six and leaves you with one skillet to wash—which is exactly the kind of math I appreciate on a busy weeknight.
- Serves: 6
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ean ground beef
- ½ cup yellow onion; diced
- ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup yellow bell pepper, diced
- 2 garlic cloves; minced
- 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning or homemade taco seasoning blend
- 14 oz of tomato sauce
- 2 cups of chicken broth or beef broth
- 12 oz dried pasta; Orecchiette or Bow Tie
- ½ cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
- ¼ cup sour cream
- cilantro (garnish)
HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING BLEND
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Step-by-Step Directions:
Step 1: Add ¼ cup of the beef broth and heat over medium heat using a high-sided skillet.
Step 2: Add the ground beef, diced onion, bell peppers, garlic and taco seasoning. Cook, breaking the beef apart as it browns, until the meat is fully cooked and the vegetables are tender. If necessary, carefully spoon off any excess grease.
Step 3: Stir in the tomato sauce, dried pasta and remaining broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then cover and cook for 10–13 minutes. Check and stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking. Add a splash of broth if the skillet becomes too dry before the pasta is tender.
Step 4: Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the sour cream until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Step 5: Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the pasta. Cover for a few minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve warm.
Step 6: For a browned, bubbly cheese topping, place the skillet under the broiler for 1–2 minutes instead. Be sure to use an oven-safe skillet and watch it closely.
🍋 Simply Made Tips & Easy Swaps
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef.
- Use cheddar, Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack instead of Mexican-blend cheese.
- Add drained black beans or corn with the tomato sauce for an even heartier dinner.
- Keep it mild with mild taco seasoning, or add jalapeños, cayenne or hot sauce for more heat.
- Stir the pasta occasionally as it simmers so it doesn’t stick. Add a splash of broth if the skillet begins to look dry.
- Remove the skillet from the heat before stirring in the sour cream to keep the sauce smooth.
- Serve it with a simple salad, roasted vegetables, tortilla chips or garlic bread.
- Make it a toppings bar with avocado, chopped tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream, cilantro or crushed tortilla chips. Everyone gets what they want, and you avoid taking special orders.
- Store leftover Tex-Mex pasta in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or warm them gently in a skillet. Add a splash of broth before reheating if the sauce has thickened.
👉 Before You Go…
If this easy Tex-Mex pasta solved tonight’s dinner dilemma, save the recipe so you can find it again. For another simple taco-inspired dinner, try our One Pan Taco Chicken Casserole, or browse more of our easy dinner recipes when you need something dependable without making a whole production out of it.
Ground Beef Tex-Mex Pasta
Equipment
- high-sided skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ½ cup yellow onion diced (diced)
- ½ cup red bell pepper (diced)
- ½ cup yellow bell pepper (diced)
- 1 ounce 1 packet taco seasoning or homemade taco seasoning blendstore-bought taco seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic minced (minced)
- 14 oz tomato sauce
- 2 cups chicken broth or beef broth
- 12 oz dried pasta (Orecchiette or Bow Tie)
- ½ cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
- ¼ cup sour cream
- cilantro
Homemade Taco Seasoning Blend
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Add ¼ cup of the broth to a large, high-sided skillet and warm it over medium heat.
- Add the ground beef, diced onion, bell peppers, garlic and taco seasoning. Cook, breaking the beef apart as it browns, until the meat is fully cooked and the vegetables are tender. If necessary, carefully spoon off any excess grease.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, dried pasta and remaining broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then cover and cook for 10–13 minutes. Check and stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking. Add a splash of broth if the skillet becomes too dry before the pasta is tender.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the sour cream until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the pasta. Cover for a few minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve warm.
- For a browned, bubbly cheese topping, place the skillet under the broiler for 1–2 minutes instead. Be sure to use an oven-safe skillet and watch it closely.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: All nutrition values are per serving and approximate. They will vary depending on products and quantities used.
