Description
Comforting crockpot taco spaghetti blends Mexican and Italian flavors in one hearty dish. Simple ingredients merge into a delicious meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
Vegetables and Spices:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning)
Canned and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 (10 ounces / 283 grams) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies (or plain diced tomatoes)
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can tomato sauce
- 3 cups chicken broth (or beef broth)
Pasta and Cheese:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) spaghetti, broken in half
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or your favorite blend)
Garnish and Optional Toppings:
- Fresh cilantro or green onions, chopped (for garnish)
- Sour cream, avocado, or salsa (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the meat base by sautéing ground beef with onions in a skillet until thoroughly cooked and browned, then drain excess fat.
- Incorporate taco seasoning into the meat mixture, ensuring even distribution of spices.
- Transfer the seasoned beef to the crockpot and combine with Rotel tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth, creating a rich, flavorful liquid foundation.
- Allow the sauce to develop its complex flavors by slow cooking on low temperature for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking.
- Break spaghetti into segments and gently submerge into the sauce, ensuring complete coverage by the liquid.
- Continue cooking on high heat for 20-25 minutes, periodically stirring to guarantee uniform pasta texture and prevent clumping.
- Enhance the dish’s creaminess by gradually melting cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses into the spaghetti mixture.
- Finish the dish with fresh herb garnishes like chopped cilantro or green onions for added brightness.
- Serve immediately, offering optional accompaniments such as sour cream, diced avocado, or zesty salsa to complement the meal.
Notes
- Prevent pasta from clumping by breaking spaghetti into smaller pieces and stirring frequently during cooking.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a healthier version of the dish.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter protein alternative that works perfectly for different dietary needs.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium taco seasoning and chicken broth, which helps control salt intake without compromising flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg